Automotive engine cooling pipe apparatus and method of use

A method of installing an automotive engine cooling pipe apparatus within an engine block of an engine for fluid conduction therethrough, comprising the steps of:

• seating a front sealing ring temporarily separated from the apparatus within a front opening of the engine block;
• telescopically collapsing the apparatus as by shifting a front tube of the apparatus and a rear tube of the apparatus telescopically engaged with the front tube axially toward one another, whereby the overall length of the apparatus is shortened;
• positioning the collapsed apparatus within the engine block such that a proximal portion of the front tube is substantially adjacent the front opening of the engine block and a distal portion of the rear tube having a crush ring slidably installed thereon is substantially adjacent an opposite rear opening of the engine block, the crush ring having a proximal crush ring surface that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the crush ring, the proximal crush ring surface being configured to selectively substantially abut a distally-facing rear shoulder of the rear tube, and further having a distal crush ring surface opposite the proximal crush ring surface that is at an obtuse angle from the axis of the crush ring, whereby the crush ring is formed having a tapered profile, the distal crush ring surface being configured to selectively substantially abut a tapered distal wall of the engine block about the rear opening thereof;
• telescopically expanding the apparatus as by shifting the front and rear tubes axially away from one another, whereby the overall length of the apparatus is increased and the proximal portion of the front tube enters and seats within the front opening of the engine block, sealing within the front sealing ring, and the distal portion of the rear tube enters and seats within the rear opening of the engine block;
• and
• clamping the crush ring between the distally-facing rear shoulder of the rear tube and the tapered distal wall of the engine block adjacent the rear opening so as to cooperate in securing the relative positions of the telescoping front and rear tubes of the expanded apparatus and thereby stabilize the installation of the apparatus within the engine block during use.