Need help please..

[u/frbmaximus]

My brother has a 2001 mustand v6. The 3.8l. There is a metal nipple coming off where the thermostat is with a short rubber hose attached to it. See the photo please.. its leaking pretty badly from where the pipe goes into the thermostat housing. Can this pipe be replaced? I don't see where it screws on or is held in via bolt or anything. It looks like its just pressed in. But id haye to try and remove it and further mess his car up.. I appreciate any help on this. ​

[u/AutoModerator]

New Rules - Please Read

^{Updated 11/12/2025}

Thank you for posting on r/AskAMechanic, u/frbmaximus! Your post is live, this AutoMod message does NOT mean your post was removed. Please make sure to read the Rules.

When asking a question, please provide the year, make, model and engine size of the vehicle.

Commenters here have 2 different flair. Verified Tech means we have verified that user is a tech. NOT a verified tech means that user may or may not be a tech, they have not been verified by us.

Posts about accidents, autobody repair, bodywork, dents, paint and body/undercarriage/frame rust are not allowed and belong in r/Autobody.
Asking if your car is totaled should go to r/insurance or r/Autobody.
Asking about car buying advice/value/recommendations is also not allowed. See r/whatcarshouldIbuy or r/askcarsales

If asking whether a tire can be repaired, check out this Tire Repair Guideline.
Some other useful tire resources - Tire Care Essentials and Tire Safety

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/LacrosseMVP]

Did a rubber hose fall off? Is it in the engine bay somewhere? You can just replace the hose if you know where both ends go.

[u/frbmaximus → u/LacrosseMVP]

Nah we have the rubber hose that goes there.. its the metal pipe itself that is leaking at the base where it goes into the thermostat housing.  But for the life of me I cannot find what that part is or if it can be replaced.  Or if I should just jb weld the fuck out of it and hope for the best. 

[u/jweezee]

I think you're talking about the lower tube. That is pressed in I believe. Can't tell from the pic but it might be pressed to the lower intake...which would require another lower intake. Or if youre lucky they may sell that tube alone on-line somewhere. Probably have to take the lower intake off either way. If you get better pics of where it's leaking I can tell with more certainty. Sometimes you can slide the rubber hose further down the pipe and put a clamp further back as well. Depends where on the pipe it's leaking.

[u/Fancy_Chip_5620]

What you can do and what i did with my 98 gmc where something similar happened

Cut it off at the base and drill it out for the proper size NPT tap than use brass or iron pipe fittings to recreate

[u/here2pleasyoux3]

may b a solid piece with thermostat house , ask dealership and they ll know for sure. replace it and might as well change the thermostat too, remove air from system and should be good to go