Well new Z hose in and had enough today with the rear engine small hose tomorrow morning.
So the easy part first.
I removed the rear intermediate firewall as per utube vids online and given I will be replacing rear little hose as well. 20min max and easy to do.
Then remove your intake pipe as you would to oil filter change and unplug engine crankcase breather to get out the way.
I removed the single bolt holding the air conditioning pipes on the firewall. You can create some free play to lift the bracket to stand on it’s thread under some tension to give you some wiggle room. I took the bolt out on the air con pipes to intermediate firewall for free play. Not much but enough to get at the job.
Then looking straight down, the oil filter housing has this L shaped bracket. Two bolts on the housing and one bolt on the block. Removing this bracket gives you better access to to spring clamp.
I could not get the two fuel lines to disconnect as this would have given ever further access to remove both spring clamps so worked around them.
Now the fun begins, getting in needle nose pliers (I have standard and really long ones near 12inch). I spent a ridiculous amount of time to eventually get both clamps off and hose out. It’s the working area that is severely limiting especially with that air con pipe downwards between oil housing and firewall so to compress the spring. Getting your hand into and removing the hose is not a problem but always carefully as if you have air bags then don’t hit the air line or connector.
Used worm clamps and a lot of fiddling will get them torqued. So 3 hours from the time I walked out to the shed for one friggin hose. I then took the intake to turbo pipe off exposing the first spring clamp and again long needle nose, moved that off. The right side will leave for tomorrow as it looks painful to get a clamp on to it but less energy required as smaller so fingers crossed. It sits right under a small pipe (Alloy turbo air pressure pipe) with sensor at top so another prick of a job. I did remove the Center upper heat shield (about a foot sq) as only one bolt and easy to do prior to this. It’s just the location at rear of engine is the challenge but more access than the Z hose. Found by standing on caravan ramps over the passenger side bay gives you the height to get yourself closer to the work area.
The key takeaway is just limited access and whilst a DIY job, depends on what’s in the tool box and thinking smart about it with common tools. Getting the tool on the spring clamps being the test. I have never used or owned a spring clamp remover but that device would be still a challenge I suspect. 109K 8/13 8 speed and the z hose was fine just to thumb it to me.
WK diesel replacing oil cooler coolant z hose
