Maybe the original hoses can be removed without lifting the chamber but not silicone hoses as they're too stiff, requiring all 4 to be slid fully onto the chamber clear of the manifolds.

I managed to get an hour on the car tonight, made decent progress

Click image to enlarge

normally I'd say brake cleaner but if cleaning parts on the car not too sure.
You wouldn't want anything ingested....

Also be careful of the coolant pipe near radiator with the little t junctions (just near your yellow rag)
They snap if you look at them wrong...

. Cheers, Greg
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
2011 Vogue SE 4.4 with lots of toys in Stornaway

Thanks, Greg.

I'm painfully aware of the pipe's fragility - found out the hard way when inspecting a failed belt tensioner. The new top hose is only a few months old, but still treated as if made of the finest bone china!

Help please...

I can't see a way to remove this pipe from the donut:

Click image to enlarge

not done this myself and I'm sure somebody who has will be along soon...

two thoughts though:

are the indents a squeeze point?
the oil drain pipe is a bit like this (but admittedly has more obvious squeeze points

what about the green tabs?
do they poke in to release?

. Cheers, Greg
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
2011 Vogue SE 4.4 with lots of toys in Stornaway

There a tab you have to push in and then pull up.

As the top picture is now there's a green tab

Sorry, forgot to mention the tab!

I've pushed it all the way in and I still can't remove the connector. I've tried lifting it, twisting it while lifting and it just won't come free. I can't use much force as the pipe is so prone to easy damage.

It's the last thing stopping me from from continuing the job! All of the new silicone replacement pipes are cut and ready to go back on after it's all had a major clean.

Thanks for the replies so far. Maybe there's a knack to it?

Odd thing is the workshop manual seems to suggest the whole thing can be removed from the donut without separating the pipes. Given it's a water pipe I don't know if the system will need bleeding afterwards if I do need to separate them?

Sorry for a all the questions!

It 100% separates ill see if I can find the old pipe I replaced on mine regarding bleeding no all should be fine I didn't have to bleed the system after removal.

Just been out to work shop and got you a couple of pics

That's very kind of you, thank you.

I looked at a photo of a new donut and could see that the whole pipe can indeed be removed without being separated. I gently prised it forward out of the slot and it's now free. I have one last plug to disconnect which is fighting me and then I can start the clean up and replace the faulty parts.

Next instalment tomorrow, no doubt.

Thanks again for all of the advice.

No problem I hope the new hoses sorts your issues.

Hoses are now replaced and everything got a major clean while it was disassembled. It's a wonder the engine runs with that much crap being recirculated back into the inlet.

I will have the codes cleared tomorrow and hopefully report a car back to full health!

Thanks again to everyone who took the time to offer help and advice.