Auto-box Oil Lines

[Rhod]

I though that it might be worth posting this as a heads-up.
A couple of weeks ago, on a rather wet day, I noticed a fair amount of oil washing off down the road after I parked the van (2.5TD). On investigation I found that one of the metal oil lines from the auto-box had developed a fracture. I managed to patch it up with self-amalgamating tape to get me home & then delivered it to my local Bongo mechanic & asked him to replace all the pipework in the circuit - on the basis that if one piece had gone the others probably weren't far behind. In fact during the removal of the damaged line it's partner also showed up with a leak.

That's when the real problems developed..... It appears that these bits of pipework are unobtainable in the UK. So far as the garage could find out (via AVL Leisure) they might just be available from Mazda in Japan, but no guarantee of that & the cost would be fairly high. We were going to fit a used set from Bellhill, but apparantly they said that the ones that they take off are usually pretty well corroded as well - so not much point. In the end the damaged sections of pipe have been sheathed in heavy duty rubber hose as a temporary/permanent repair.

From the sound of it, it could be that quite a lot of Bongos could have auto-box oil lines which are on their last legs.

If anyone has contacts for a supply of the lines, or someone who would be prepared to fabricate a batch, then it might well be following it up.

Any thoughts?

Rhod

[Alacrity]

Replace them with lines made up from pipes from a commercial (trucks) repairer. The brake lines (air ?) are a similar size I believe on some & are available in long rolls to be cut go length & shaped, much like you can with car brake lines. Alternatively run them in 'rubber' (not literally), just make sure you get the correct stuff from a transmission specialist & make sure they are well supported & are away from chafe points.

[Rhod]

Yes, had thought of running the whole pipe using flexible hoses, but there would still be the issue of sorting out the pipe ends. It's certainly not undoable, but would be easier if direct replacement lines were available. Probably part of an on-going project to look at replacements.

[mikeWalsall]

The Toyota Estima use a similar oil cooler pipes layout and they rusted through on mine ...

The two pipes where easily obtainable from Japan (via my local Toyota spares dept) .. but .. they where about 5 foot long and over £50 ..

With the length of them .. they where a 'bit' fiddly to fit .. I reckon if I was going to do the job again, I would cut off the ends of the radiator / gear box steel tubes and 'splice' some oil proof rubber / hydraulic type of pipe onto the steel ends using some good Jubilee clips ..

[Alacrity]

there would still be the issue of sorting out the pipe ends.

Cut a short section (say 6") off the old ones & use that (unless you are very unlucky & they are corroded at the ends). Make sure you flare the pipes first or they can blow off.