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Radiator Hoses

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catfood

catfood

Jedi Knight
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Radiator hoses seem to be available in rubber, kevlar and silicon. Any opinions as to whether the kevlar and silicon offer any benefits over rubber?
 
catfood said:
Radiator hoses seem to be available in rubber, kevlar and silicon. Any opinions as to whether the kevlar and silicon offer any benefits over rubber?
Click to expand...

The Kevlar hoses will outlast other type hoses.
 
Silicone hoses can be a bear to get sealed, and they're somewhat permeable too; I vowed to never again put them on anyone's street car! Also, if you don't use the proper clamps for them (OE BMW hose clamps are suitable) you'll ruin them before you ever get a chance to fill them with water.

Just because someone offers a product that costs more, that doesn't mean it's better, or even as good ;)

As for Kevlar, in the thirty-eight (>38) years I've had my Healey, I've never had a standard rubber hose fail__not even at the heater return junction. Save your money for things that matter, don't waste it where it won't do any good!
 
I had a Kevlar one, The hose was never used before but was lying on the shelf for a few years already. After installing the brand new hose appeared to leak. As you can see on the seam.
. kevlar hose.jpg
 
hama61 said:
I had a Kevlar one, The hose was never used before but was lying on the shelf for a few years already. After installing the brand new hose appeared to leak. As you can see on the seam.
. View attachment 44305
Click to expand...

I had a Kevlar hose leak like this after it was on the car for a few years.
 
hama61 said:
I had a Kevlar one, The hose was never used before but was lying on the shelf for a few years already. After installing the brand new hose appeared to leak. As you can see on the seam..
Click to expand...

Used to get the same leak many years--like 20-30 years ago--on aftermarket hoses. I suspect the vendors/manufacturers got the word and the standard reinforced rubber hoses have been good ever since (with beefed-up joint at the heater hose).

Agree with Randy.
 
How would that heater branch/take off be attached on a Kevlar hose? The original rubber types appear to be vulcanising of some sort.

Danny
 
Dandare said:
How would that heater branch/take off be attached on a Kevlar hose? The original rubber types appear to be vulcanising of some sort.

Danny
Click to expand...

The same way the original hose's heater branch/takeoff was attached.

It is not the Kevlar that is failing it is the rubber portion of the hose.
 
Dandare said:
How would that heater branch/take off be attached on a Kevlar hose? The original rubber types appear to be vulcanising of some sort.

Danny
Click to expand...
I've seen them make molded rubber hoses, including branches, using massive autoclaves at a Gates plant in Bucyrus, Ohio. Always fascinated to see how everyday things we take for granted are made; rubber impregnated fabric strips are wrapped around stainless steel mandrels, and the hose is born in all manner of shapes (these seemed to be a variety of molded-bends heater-type hoses).
 
The best thing I can say about a silicone hose is that it is blue--if that matters to you. You'll sometimes see them on race cars because of higher sustained WT's--I don't use them on any of my race cars because of the reasons Randy states.

They are certainly not necessary on, nor are they are a suitable work-around for, a street engine that is chronically overheating. Deal with the cause, not the symptom.
 
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