[rwagoner]

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 ...

 

[Hananbelis135]

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]

@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!

 

[Thebigzeus]

@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]

Same! That thing is slick

And expensive at about 5 times the cost of the Dorman

 

[Thebigzeus]

And expensive at about 5 times the cost of the Dorman

Yes, quality cost money

 

[PAChevyCruze]

@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. 🖖

 

[Rapp]

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!!

 

[JLL]

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.

JLL's Build Thread

I have no idea why the mega thread here recommends the BKR8's, I had the EXACT same issue, covered in unburnt fuel... they are just too cold of a plug. Glad you put some 7's in. MSD should warranty your old coil, did you contact them? No. Summit racing said it only had a 1 year warranty so I...

www.cruzetalk.com

 

[Rapp]

It's ironic that you say that...

Read post #691 that I posted yesterday.

JLL's Build Thread

I have no idea why the mega thread here recommends the BKR8's, I had the EXACT same issue, covered in unburnt fuel... they are just too cold of a plug. Glad you put some 7's in. MSD should warranty your old coil, did you contact them? No. Summit racing said it only had a 1 year warranty so I...

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]

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.

 

[rwagoner]

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]

worm clamp

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

 

[rwagoner]

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

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

 

[Johnny B]

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.

 

[rwagoner]

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]

Maybe I should change back.

Hehe, wait until you know the truth.

 

[rwagoner]

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]

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]

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.