Engine Coolant Hose Question

[Ginnger13]

Hello,

I was towing a trailer uphill this past weekend when I started to get steam coming through the vents that smelled like engine coolant. when I pulled over coolant had sprayed all over the engine bay so it was hard to tell where it was coming from exactly. Got it home yesterday, cleaned the engine bay, and started the Jeep to try diagnosing it. I noticed coolant flowing out of this hole below where the heater core hoses go through the firewall, but I can't figure out where the hose for this is supposed to go. It wouldn't let me attach the photo here, so here is an imgur link:

 

[Jezza]

That's the AC evaporator drain. It will also catch coolant leaking from the heater core, which is probably what you have.

 

[MountaineerTom]

That is the drain for the HVAC box Your heater core is leaking if coolant is draining from it.

 

[Ginnger13]

Great, I've heard that replacement sucks to do. Can I just use a hose to bypass the heater core, just to get the Jeep off the street and into the garage?

 

[Jezza]

Great, I've heard that replacement sucks to do. Can I just use a hose to bypass the heater core, just to get the Jeep off the street and into the garage?

Yep, you can loop them together and bypass the core. You won't have heat obviously, but it will run and drive. One hose is 5/8 and the other is 3/4 if I'm not mistaken.

 

[MountaineerTom]

Yes, disconnect the two heater hoses and reconnect them with a hose adapter. They are close to the same size, but not exactly the same size. Off the top of my head, I don't remember what they are. I made up a bypass hose from stuff I had laying around so I could still drive it until I got the A/C evacuated and parts ordered.

Here's some info I put together when I replaced my heater core. Depending on the year of your Jeep, you may have some differences from mine.
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/another-heater-core-replacement-and-a-c-evap-core.15568/

 

[tdrudd]

I had good luck looping the hoses with this 5/8 to 3/4 hose barb adapter.

Beduan Brass Hose Barb Reducer, 3/4" to 5/8" Barb Hose ID, Reducing Barb Brabed Fitting Splicer Mender Union Air Water Fuel https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SSRJZY1/?tag=wranglerorg-20

Hope that helps in the short term, also haven't decided what to do about a replacement heater core yet.

Terry