Automotive engine coolant pipe repair apparatus and method

Abstract

A repair kit and associated method for repairing an automotive coolant pipe for fluid-conducting within an engine block of an engine includes at least a repair stent, sealant and instructions for performing the method. The repair stent may be a whole tube, or a hollow semi-cylinder defining a gap. The method includes draining coolant from the engine, removing the water pump from the engine without removing the timing chain cover of the engine, inserting the repair stent including a sealant through the coolant passage, wherein the coolant passage extends through the timing chain cover into the engine, re-assembling the water pump to the engine and adding coolant to the engine.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A repair kit for use in repairing an engine by stopping a coolant leak, the repair kit comprising:
 a repair stent having a substantially cylindrical shape sized to fit within a coolant passage of the engine;   a package of coolant pipe repair sealant for affixing the repair stent within the coolant passage; and   instructions for accessing the coolant passage and installing the repair stent within the coolant passage.   
     
     
         2 . The repair kit of  claim 1 , wherein a semi-circular cross section of the repair stent defines a gap that extends along a length of the repair stent such that the repair stent can be compressed in diameter for insertion and extraction. 
     
     
         3 . The repair kit of  claim 1 , wherein a circumference of the repair stent is continuous so that the repair stent has a tubular shape. 
     
     
         4 . The repair kit of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a sanding rod for removing a casting mark and cleaning the coolant passage;   a cleaning rod for cleaning the coolant passage; and   a sponge applicator brush for applying the coolant pipe repair sealant.   
     
     
         5 . The repair kit of  claim 4 , wherein the sponge applicator brush includes markings for determining a depth of applying the coolant pipe repair sealant within the coolant passage. 
     
     
         6 . The repair kit of  claim 1 , wherein the repair stent has a diameter and length sized to fit the coolant passage, and wherein the coolant passage is a coolant passage of a BWM N62 engine. 
     
     
         7 . The repair kit of  claim 1 , wherein the repair stent has a diameter substantially equal to 1.25 inches and a length between 1.0 and 6.0 inches. 
     
     
         8 . The repair kit of  claim 1 , wherein the repair stent has a length substantially equal to 2.5 inches. 
     
     
         9 . The repair kit of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions include instructions directing an installer to:
 drain coolant from the engine;   remove the water pump from the engine without removing a timing chain cover of the engine;   insert a repair stent including a sealant through the coolant passage, wherein the coolant passage extends through the timing chain cover into the engine;   re-assemble the water pump to the engine; and   add coolant to the engine.   
     
     
         10 . A method of repairing an engine by stopping a coolant leak, the method comprising:
 draining coolant from the engine;   removing the water pump from the engine without removing a timing chain cover of the engine;   inserting a repair stent including a sealant through the coolant passage, wherein the coolant passage extends through the timing chain cover into the engine;   re-assembling the water pump to the engine; and   adding coolant to the engine.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the inserting inserts a repair stent that defines a gap that extends along a length of the repair stent such that the repair stent can be compressed in diameter for insertion and extraction. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the inserting inserts a repair stent having a continuous circumference so that the repair stent has a tubular shape. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising sanding off a casting mark from the coolant passage and cleaning the coolant passage with a sanding rod. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising determining a depth of applying the coolant pipe repair sealant within the coolant passage using a marked brush supplied with the repair stent in a kit. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the repair stent has a diameter and length sized to fit the coolant passage, and wherein the coolant passage is a coolant passage of a BWM N62 engine. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the repair stent has a diameter substantially equal to 1.25 inches and a length between 1.0 and 6.0 inches. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the repair stent has a length substantially equal to 2.5 inches. 
     
     
         18 . A repair kit for use in repairing an engine by stopping a coolant leak, the repair kit comprising:
 a repair stent having a diameter and length sized to fit a coolant passage of the engine by having a diameter substantially equal to 1.25 inches and a length substantially equal to 2.5 inches, wherein the engine is a BWM N62 engine, wherein the repair stand has a substantially cylindrical shape sized to fit within the coolant passage, wherein a semi-circular cross section of the repair stent defines a gap that extends along a length of the repair stent such that the repair stent can be compressed in diameter for insertion and extraction;   a package of coolant pipe repair sealant for affixing the repair stent within the coolant passage;   a sanding rod for removing a casting mark and cleaning the coolant passage;   a cleaning rod for cleaning the coolant passage;   a sponge applicator brush for applying the coolant pipe repair sealant;   instructions for accessing the coolant passage and installing the repair stent within the coolant passage.   
     
     
         19 . The repair kit of  claim 18 , wherein the sponge applicator brush includes markings for determining a depth of applying the coolant pipe repair sealant within the coolant passage. 
     
     
         20 . The repair kit of  claim 18 , wherein the instructions include instructions directing an installer to:
 drain coolant from the engine;   remove the water pump from the engine without removing a timing chain cover of the engine;   insert a repair stent including a sealant through the coolant passage, wherein the coolant passage extends through the timing chain cover into the engine;   re-assemble the water pump to the engine; and   add coolant to the engine.