I looked under my car today and notice that the oil cooling lines need replacing. It seems like the first layer of one of the lines is rusted (3rd pic). The wetness you see is just some crc rust inhibitor for the meantime. My questions are:
how crucial is this repair right now? Can I wait 1 more month?
The inlet and outlet right angle stems (first two pics) look bad too at the base where it connects to the radiator. Is this part of the radiator? Meaning does the radiator need replacing for that? And does it matter that it’s rusted like that at the base (first two pics)
Well let’s see… replacing the cooler lines is a couple hundred bucks. Replacing the transmission if a cooler line lets go would be a couple thousand bucks. Same equation for the radiator. Replacing it- couple hundred bucks. Radiator lets go… engine quickly overheats… you’ll easily be into the repairs for a thousand bucks. Do ya feel lucky today, well do ya?
Unless you are one of 3 people left on Planet Earth without a credit card then you will have to wait. Otherwise just get the parts and fix it or have it done and next month send that amount to your credit card company.
I can fix it myself but I don’t have as much time as I’d like. But that’s ok. It will only take a day to repair. Do you think the radiator rust is bad?
I expect all you have to do is replace the rubber hoses. Be sure to purchase the correct hose type and size b/c as mentioned above, the transmission fluid is under a lot of pressure. If you want to worry about something, the main risk is a leak in the transmission cooler inside the radiator. That could allow coolant into the transmission, and quickly ruin the transmission. On a 2000 Corolla, that possibility seems pretty unlikely. No harm done to ask your shop’s opinion of course. They might look at the coolant in the radiator, checking for an oily film, indicating a small transmission cooler leak. They could also pressure test the transmission cooler presumably.
In the absence of any visible leaks, doing nothing other than cleaning the areas & monitoring the situation seems like a pretty good option too.
Yes, and frankly, since you didnt know whether transmission fluid or coolant flowed through the lines, you should probably have this done by a pro. And when he suggests replacing all the coolant, and the thermostat and all the transmission fluid, do it.
Unless you intend to replace the rubber hoses anyway, suggest to clean that off of the rubber asap, it might degrade the rubber and cause a leak when you wouldn’t have had one otherwise.
Lol I’ve done plenty of car repairs myself. What does it matter if I thought that coolant flowed through? Does that make the job harder? No. It’s just a different fluid. Doesn’t make any difference to the repair
