I am replacing my engine coolant overflow hose and can't figure out how to detach one of the connections (Pictured). I am trying to avoid muscling it off and breaking the gray fitting at the top of the hose it connects to. I just replaced the PCV lines in my 22 y.o. VW Passat and broke just about every 'quick connect' conxn on the old hoses (and sprained a ligament in my elbow in the process), so not wanting to do all that again here. TIA.

 

Ended up breaking the tabs, which of course fell down into the bowels of the engine. But it's apart now, so I guess 'RESOLVED'. Perhaps the radiator fan will compost the tabs.

 

Too late now, but pinch the rectangle tabs on the sides and pull the fitting. Brittle plastic doesn't last long.

 

if the tabs broke off that easy, its time to replace that hose anyway.

Another option is to disconnect the hose from your throttle body (this is where that grey hose links to)
and pull the hose out the back where it attaches to your heater manifold and run it directly to your
coolant overflow tank. If you do this it requires to plug the top of your coolant outlet pipe (Y pipe)