So Hot She Melts Plastic. Literally.

After replacing the radiator last fall you can imagine my (pissed off) surprise when we realized that the vette was leaking coolant yet again.  We noticed it initially by the smell the first few moments after start-up (it smells almost exactly like maple syrup as it burns off the engine), but later it became more obvious by the green puddles it would leave behind.  Luckily, the leak was slow and Stella had bigger problems, so we kept an eye on it and let it be. 

After her wheel was repaired we started to get more serious about fixing it, which was apparently a good thing, seeing as though the leak became significantly worse shortly thereafter.   

We spent some time under the hood with a flashlight and found this guy (above) to be the culprit.  A no doubt original water-heater control valve, which connects two hoses carrying coolant and also taps into the vacuum system.  Oddly enough, we were relieved that it wasn't a hose, as that would've been more difficult (not to mention messy) to replace.  After doing some research, we were able to go to the local AutoZone and buy a new, plastic replacement valve for about $10.

We also had to replace both clamps which attached the hoses to the valve.  To save ourselves a headache, we ended up buying metal clamps with plastic turn-key bolts.  The turn-key bolts would be easier to maneuver in such a tight space and also eliminate the use for tools, so this seemed fantastic to us.  We reconnected everything and took it for a test run.

Good news:  No more leaking coolant!! The water-heater control valve was indeed the cause of the leak, and Mike and I managed to replace it completely on our own without messing something else up. And we did it all for less than $15! Score!

Bad news:  The engine is so hot that it melted the plastic turn-key bolts of our new clamps and started to melt away the exterior of our new water-heater control valve.  Oh shit.

Now, most people might get a little frustrated at this point, but not Mike and I.  Mostly, we were both just so relieved that the burning smell we noticed upon our return trip was not another CATASTROPHIC PROBLEM.  

Today we went back out and zip-tied the radiator hoses to the exterior part of the engine compartment, well away from the engine block and anything else which would get in excess of 200 degrees.  We fired her up and took her for another spin.  This time, no more leaking coolant AND no more burning plastic! Success!!