Where have I seen this before????????????????????????????????????????????
Oh yeah.... It was on my truck about 3 years ago.
You have a couple of options. Replace with an OEM Tee (NOT a Dorman aftermarket Tee) or a metal Tee (made by Gruven and others). Folks here will chime in on the metal Tee sourcing, which a a permanent fix. I went with OEM replacement Tees (~$30 each at the dealer), and I used the dealer, due to time constraints. Be sure to replace both Tees, and ALL heater and radiator and overflow hoses, as most are probably original (manufacture date is often stamped on the hoses).
When working with the Tees, be sure to use gloves, as the firewall insulation is quite aggressive, and you hands will itch for a few days. When trying to de-couple the Tees, push the hose into the Tee, while twisting slightly, and while pushed in, squeeze the 2 clips on the side of the Tee, and then pull. Sometimes, the hose will come out quite easily. Other times, you will need to cut the Tee off, being careful not to damage the metal tubes from the front heater core and rear heater core connected into the back sides of the Tee.
Let us know how this works out for you.
