Hello,

I finally had to deal with Inga's smoking problem (1986 245DL 286K) this afternoon. It was from the front cooling line and it was getting really bad. I had to put a quart in the tranny to make it the 32 miles home today.

Tried getting to get it off earlier in the week with a 5/8 wrench without any luck. A crow foot wrench on a swivel and extension made a little progress but that was taking way too long. Ended up pulling off the end of the catalytic converter and pulling the pipe out of they way and that gave enough room to get a wrench in to pull off the transmission line. The elbow fitting was so loose that it twisted right off. The o ring was badly flattened out and that allowed fluid to pour out and land on the tailpipe. I have owned Inga for 13 years and never have worked on that o ring. Did modify the transmission lines a couple of years back. That may have allowed the pipe to move around and flatten out that o ring.

Installed a new o ring, snugged it all up and put the cat pipe back on. Warmed the car up and then added enough fluid to get the level in the middle. Took her out for a 10 mile drive and she is leak and smoke free. Took about an hour start to finish, for me that was pretty fast.

Still a PITA Job IMOH.

Regards,

Paul