4.4 cooling system bleeder

[Rob king]

I decided to give my cooling system a flush and replace the fluid yesterday.
Following the workshop manual procedure I attempted to open the bleed valve perched just above the thermostat.
As I twisted the tap the two ends clamped into the hoses just dissintegrated in my hand leaving me holding the stainless tap head and little more.
Very glad it didn't fail while driving. I've had to replace it with a pipe connector temporarily.
Looking for a replacement on line today I noticed a number of treads about the subject on overseas forums and see the plastic tap on the 4.4 V8 is a known fault, it's prone to failure and should be changed at 80-100,000km intervals max. (Although that isn't meantioned in my workshop manual)
In the US the part sells between US$10-15, however forums there 'strongly' suggest a local brass replacement instead.
Has anyone replaced theirs with a brass one? is there a local version from pirtek or something that anyone has had success with?
Thanks,
Rob

[Rob king]

OK, having made the quick fix with a 3/8 brass hose joiner I set about finding a replacement. I do need the bleeder because I have a suspect the system still has air in it. The temp gauge takes much longer to get to the normal spot just under 1/2 way.
All the 'ebay.com.AU' links were to suppliers in the US.. but they were readily available just not quick. None in Australia.
The closest land rover dealer to me at Narellan is still over and hour away on the freeway, however I called their parts guy and they could have one the next day for $20. I explained my location and asked if they'd pop it in an express post bag for a fee. Flat no. 'We don't do that, you'll have to collect it'
Rang '**'spares, who would only sell me the tap with pipes attached as an assembly. ... by now my own temperature was rising too!
Then I remembered Rovercraft who were very helpful a year or so back when I used my Expo show and shine gift voucher and bought a heap of parts, filters and oils. Sure enough I called botany, it was answered in Perth, and the part was found in stock at Melbourne. It's now in an express bag to me. Part price ...$18.00
Is pleasant, competent, efficient service such as that now the exception and not the norm?
Why is it so hard to do business here?... easier to source parts from Melbourne via Perth; even from the US, than from the local Land Rover dealer.
This isn't an ad for Rovercraft, but credit and thanks where its due.
The lesson everyone with a 4.4 V8 needs to learn is that the tap has a life span and is prone to failure. I suggest replacing it before 80,000km to avoid failure and possibly cooking your engine.
Rob.

[trout1105]

Maybe a trip to Bunnings or an industrial supplier would be easier to source this as I imagine that a simple "T" piece like this in either brass or stainless steel would be readily available and also much more durable than a plastic one

[Rob king]

Maybe a trip to Bunnings or an industrial supplier would be easier to source this as I imagine that a simple "T" piece like this in either brass or stainless steel would be readily available and also much more durable than a plastic one

Agreed, but with a car's life now cynically equating to the period of the warranty there's no incentive to do it correctly to start with.
I was going down that path but it all got too hard. And cynically too, I recognised that I wont have the car long enough to need to do it again... I'm ashamed to say, so I opted for OEM.
Rob.