Coolant bleed valve thread missing??

[Ged]

Hi all. I am installing the engine saver in my TD5. I removed the black plastic bleed screw from the top radiator hose and discovered that there was no thread left in the coolant pipe to install the new sensor plug. The top radiator hose was 8 years old so must have deteriorated. Nonetheless, I acquired a new radiator hose and installed it today. During the installation I noticed that the bleed screw is fixed into a small plastic grommet that is different color and composition the radiator hose. Has left me wondering if the grommet detached from my old hose and is now circulating in the cooling system? Hopefully if it was still intact it discharged with the coolant water when I removed the top and bottom hoses. If not, do you think it will cause damage in the system if it continues to circulate around? Any experiences or suggestions welcome.

[Pinelli]

I lost the thread in the top radiator hose when I had to check the cooling system halfway between Tennant Creek and Alice Springs! Had to do a temp fix with rescue tape (always carry some), until I could replace the hose 600km later. I probably lost half the fluid when I replaced the hose, and 7000km later it hasn't caused a problem, but it has always bugged me, wondering where it went.

So no advice, but you're not alone there.

[Fluids]

Due to the direction of flow, the water is heading for the radiator, so that's where it will have ended up. In the radiator tank.

Wether it can find its way through the radiator or not is the question ? If it can't, then I'd say there will be no problems.

Sent from my iPad using Braille

[clubagreenie]

If it's like the V8 top hose then the plastic section inside the hose is sort of glued or vulcanised into place. Mine fell out and I just cut the hose and put a piece of stainless tube in with another piece of solid TIG'd to it drilled and plugged as a bleeder.