Coolant Tee Quick Questions

[Noggles]

One of my tees is leaking where the rear metal line connects to it and had already broken on the front like usual so I want to replace both tees. My truck has one black tee and one white tee. Everything I am finding online up until this morning was a white tee from gm. This morning in the big thread was a part number for a black one from gm and on the amazon page it is normally bought along with the white one.

Are both tees the exact same and I can just order 2 white ones? Should I just order one of each?

 

[Doubeleive]

One of my tees is leaking where the rear metal line connects to it and had already broken on the front like usual so I want to replace both tees. My truck has one black tee and one white tee. Everything I am finding online up until this morning was a white tee from gm. This morning in the big thread was a part number for a black one from gm and on the amazon page it is normally bought along with the white one.

Are both tees the exact same and I can just order 2 white ones? Should I just order one of each?

one is angled different than the other because of the way the rear lines are angled up to meet the t's so you no you want 1 of each.
use oem otherwise you will be doing them again in short order, don't cheap out on these, they are like arteries, pop one of those and all the coolant can be ran out before you even know it.

 

[Noggles]

Yup I had planned on doing OEM so I don't have to do this job again. Just wanted to be sure I ordered the right parts. Thanks!

 

[Dalt10]

I bought mine from Advance Auto parts a year and a half ago. Dorman. Some people say they aren't any good but I've had good luck with them so far.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Please note that the insulation on the firewall around those Tees is real aggressive. Use gloves, or your hands will be itching for the next few days.

 

[Noggles]

That’s good info. I hadn’t seen that mentioned anywhere. Thanks

 

[rockola1971]

I bought mine from Advance Auto parts a year and a half ago. Dorman. Some people say they aren't any good but I've had good luck with them so far.

Yup. My dormans have been on my Denali for about 6 years now or so. Its hit or miss on Dorman parts though for sure. I wouldnt waste my time using Dorman replacent vent motors.

 

[Noggles]

Bringing this back up before I install the parts this weekend. I got 2 OEM GM tees and then also a pair of the metal Dorman 800-409HP fittings. I test fit one of the Dorman fittings on the new tees and it fit super loose on both. Is this normal? I feel like I might just send them back and use hose clamps since that works just as well.

 

[blackelky]

one is angled different than the other because of the way the rear lines are angled up to meet the t's so you no you want 1 of each.
use oem otherwise you will be doing them again in short order, don't cheap out on these, they are like arteries, pop one of those and all the coolant can be ran out before you even know it.

I'm changing mine next week because of your suggestions. It cracks me up how passionate your hate is for the coolant tees though

 

[Doubeleive]

I'm changing mine next week because of your suggestions. It cracks me up how passionate your hate is for the coolant tees though

it's a critical part that is prone to failure over time, happens without warning. the plastic gets soft & brittle from getting heated up repeatedly.
best thing you can do to avoid it is to just replace it at no more than 7 years old, beyond that you are just asking for it to happen

when it breaks it's just like flushing the radiator out with the egnine running, doesn't take long and unless you have your eyes peeled to the temp gauge you won't even notice until you start getting a check engine light or reduced engine power, the engine can take that once or twice maybe if you stop right away if not then you are risking severe engine damage.

no different than cutting a major artery and seeing how long you can stay conscious while you bleed out.