Any Good Water Outlets?

4339 Views 21 Replies 10 Participants Last post by Desacrasa, Jan 17, 2022

rwagoner

Discussion Starter · Nov 25, 2021

I replaced my water outlet about 15 months ago (before all the turbo and cat work!) with a Dorman 902-846, hoping that their design and lifetime warranty might make for a better part. Today I had to change it again because the radiator hose connection split -- perfectly ... as if I used a hacksaw and cut a half-inch piece off, which was still in the hose. Luckily it happened in the garage apparently after my son drove home today. Overall didn't lose much coolant (about 1/3 gallon).

It MAY be that the work on the turbo/etc stressed the piece causing the failure ... certainly the incompetent techs at Bunnin Chevrolet in Santa Barbara screwed up a few other things, so it is definitely possible. But it seems it still shouldn't break. I got it exchanged under the "lifetime warranty" at Auto Zone, where they informed me that the lifetime is up ... just one exchange allowed (contacting Dorman to verify that).

But I am wondering if anyone makes one that is actually better than OEM, or if OEM was finally improved, like they improved the PCV system (kidding ... I know that's still crap). Perhaps I should just keep a few as spares in the garage ...

1 - 20 of 22 Posts

Hananbelis135

· #2 · Nov 25, 2021

Hi.
I bought from Amazon the Gm genuine part and I’m happy. I had a small leaking from the small hose that go to the spare water tank and it’s fix my problem. I replace it myself and all was good just be sure to clean well and oil the O-ring

JLL

· #3 · Nov 25, 2021

@Thebigzeus actually showed me this one:

Sonic Coolant Neck

The Racer X Fabrication coolant neck for the 2012+ Chevy Sonic 1.4L, 2011+ Chevy Cruze 1.4L and 2015-2019 Chevy Trax 1.4L is a direct replacement for the OEM coolant neck. If you have ever found that you have become stranded in the middle of...

racerxfabrication.com

racerxfabrication.com

When my current one fails, I'm definitely buying it!

Reactions: 4

Thebigzeus

· #4 · Nov 25, 2021

JLL said:
@Thebigzeus actually showed me this one:

Sonic Coolant Neck

The Racer X Fabrication coolant neck for the 2012+ Chevy Sonic 1.4L, 2011+ Chevy Cruze 1.4L and 2015-2019 Chevy Trax 1.4L is a direct replacement for the OEM coolant neck. If you have ever found that you have become stranded in the middle of...

racerxfabrication.com

When my current one fails, I'm definitely buying it!

Same! That thing is slick

Blasirl

· #5 · Nov 26, 2021

Thebigzeus said:
Same! That thing is slick

And expensive at about 5 times the cost of the Dorman

Thebigzeus

· #6 · Nov 27, 2021

Blasirl said:
And expensive at about 5 times the cost of the Dorman

Yes, quality cost money

Reactions: 2

PAChevyCruze

· #7 · Nov 28, 2021

JLL said:
@Thebigzeus actually showed me this one:

Sonic Coolant Neck

The Racer X Fabrication coolant neck for the 2012+ Chevy Sonic 1.4L, 2011+ Chevy Cruze 1.4L and 2015-2019 Chevy Trax 1.4L is a direct replacement for the OEM coolant neck. If you have ever found that you have become stranded in the middle of...

racerxfabrication.com

When my current one fails, I'm definitely buying it!

I just replaced my factory one with a new GM one. If it fails again, I'm getting this one. Thanks for the link.

🖖

Reactions: 2

Rapp

· #8 · Dec 3, 2021

The Racer X coolant neck looks like the perfect replacement for the plastic one. Unfortunately for me I could not wait for the part as the car needed to be on the road immediately. Just replaced my second water outlet after about 2 years but at least it was warrantied so I did not have to pay for it the second time.

IMO I found that the necks that break off are linked to the spring hose clamps. First time repair was the line to the, I think it's the turbo or oil cooler, (neck of the outlet crumbled and it had a spring style clamp) so when I replaced the water outlet and hose I went with a worm style clamp. Howeverrrrr, I left the spring clamp on the hose to the radiator. Fast forward to today and that neck sheered off clean. So this go around everyone gets worm clamps (and new hoses).

If I sheer another one then I will go with Racer X. Thanks to posting the part!!

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JLL

· #9 · Dec 3, 2021

Rapp said:
The Racer X coolant neck looks like the perfect replacement for the plastic one. Unfortunately for me I could not wait for the part as the car needed to be on the road immediately. Just replaced my second water outlet after about 2 years but at least it was warrantied so I did not have to pay for it the second time.

IMO I found that the necks that break off are linked to the spring hose clamps. First time repair was the line to the, I think it's the turbo or oil cooler, (neck of the outlet crumbled and it had a spring style clamp) so when I replaced the water outlet and hose I went with a worm style clamp. Howeverrrrr, I left the spring clamp on the hose to the radiator. Fast forward to today and that neck sheered off clean. So this go around everyone gets worm clamps (and new hoses).

If I sheer another one then I will go with Racer X. Thanks to posting the part!!

It's ironic that you say that...

Read post #691 that I posted yesterday.

www.cruzetalk.com

JLL's: The Golden Bullet

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www.cruzetalk.com

www.cruzetalk.com

Reactions: 1

Rapp

· #10 · Dec 3, 2021

JLL said:
It's ironic that you say that...

Read post #691 that I posted yesterday.

JLL's: The Golden Bullet

Updated Modifications List (As of 04/17/2023): APPEARANCE MODS: Custom Emblem: The Golden Bullet ANZO USA Projector Headlights 6000K HID Kit (for low beams) 5000K Osram 80W Halogen bulbs (for high beams) ANZO USA Smoked Tailights F1R F103 18x8.5 +38 Wheels 245/40R18 93W Goodyear Eagle Sport...

www.cruzetalk.com

Well I guess that settles it.....the evidence is in.....too much pressure for the plastic as it gets old, combined with the expanding of the hose while that spring clamp keeps applying pressure, until the neck crumbles or gets sheered off.

Blasirl

· #11 · Dec 4, 2021

Rapp said:
Well I guess that settles it.....the evidence is in.....too much pressure for the plastic as it gets old, combined with the expanding of the hose while that spring clamp keeps applying pressure, until the neck crumbles or gets sheered off.

The heat also plays a significant part as well.

Reactions: 1

rwagoner

Discussion Starter · #12 · Jan 12, 2022

I had a worm clamp on mine that also basically perfectly split off (after only a year with the Dorman). Maybe we need to use duct tape!

Johnny B

· #13 · Jan 12, 2022

rwagoner said:
worm clamp

Not recommended to be used on plastic parts in my book.

rwagoner

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jan 12, 2022

Johnny B said:
Not recommended to be used on plastic parts in my book.

SO we can't use spring clamps or worm clamps ...

Johnny B

· #15 · Jan 12, 2022

I know I'll trigger people but...spring clamps are in most every way better than worm gear. They have had a bad rap from day one by old schoolers. But the truth is spring clamps provide plenty of EVENLY distributed compression for the applications. Worm gear clamps are fine (although still inferior) to spring clamps for use on metal fittings. And sure, if you had some kind of mechanical issue that caused an over pressure condition you can over tighten a worm gear clamp to "fix" the symptom. And that fact only perpetuates the misconceptions.

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rwagoner

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jan 12, 2022

Johnny B said:
I know I'll trigger people but...spring clamps are in most every way better than worm gear. They have had a bad rap from day one by old schoolers. But the truth is spring clamps provide plenty of EVENLY distributed compression for the applications. Worm gear clamps are fine (although still inferior) to spring clamps for use on metal fittings. And sure, if you had some kind of mechanical issue that caused an over pressure condition you can over tighten a worm gear clamp to "fix" the symptom. And that fact only perpetuates the misconceptions.

View attachment 295529

Funny thing is ... I HAD a spring clip on that part. One of the dealers changed it to worm. Maybe I should change back.

Johnny B

· #17 · Jan 12, 2022

rwagoner said:
Maybe I should change back.

Hehe, wait until you know the truth.

rwagoner

Discussion Starter · #18 · Jan 13, 2022

Johnny B said:
Hehe, wait until you know the truth.

I do have one question ... on the drivers side radiator hose, I could not for the life of me get a spring clamp on at all .... so I used a worm gear clamp there instead. Is there some sort of trick to getting a spring clamp on without killing myself?

Johnny B

· #19 · Jan 13, 2022

www.amazon.com

24" Flexible Hose Clamp Pliers Locking Tool Fuel Oil Water 2FT Long Reach - - Amazon.com

24" Flexible Hose Clamp Pliers Locking Tool Fuel Oil Water 2FT Long Reach - - Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

Rfinle17

· #20 · Jan 16, 2022

Thebigzeus said:
Same! That thing is slick

I bought that from fab x but the top coolant hose will not fit on the top of it. I'm not sure what to do. They should have made it so you can put a hose straight on it with a clamp but it's not long enough of a fitting.

1 - 20 of 22 Posts

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