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Hose

  • Thread starter Thread starter tkrphxr
  • Start date Start date
T

tkrphxr

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I am finally going to get around to replacing the water pump and timing chain on my 86 coupe this weekend. I need to know if the heater hoses are molded or if I can go with straight hose? I want to replace all the hoses while I have the car down only problem is my buddies garage is about an hour and a half from me or the parts store and some dummy didn't look at them before taking the car up there and leaving it.:duh Thanks in advance Charlie:w
 
I think you have both...just go to the parts store and have them look it up.
 
You can use whatever you want as long as it is the correct hose for the application, i.e., the pressure side requires a reinforced hose.

Excerpt from an old Gates Rubber article:

Since the '60s, manufacturers made hoses using EPDM (ethylene propylene rubber) compounds for their resilience and flexibility. The failure of these hoses as indicated by the appearance of bulges or cracking, has always been a sign that it's time to replace a hose. However, in recent years, service technicians around the country have experienced failures of radiator, heater and thermostat by-pass hoses on relatively low-mileage vehicles. Often these failures occurred with little or no sign of exterior deterioration of the hose.

The primary cause of coolant hose failure is an electrochemical attack on the rubber tube compound in the hose, and it occurs because the hose, the coolant and the engine/radiator fittings form a galvanic cell or "battery." Assisted by high-heat and flexing, the hose can develop a pinhole leak or rupture under normal pressure. Generally, upper radiator hoses and heater hoses showed more damage than lower hoses with the most severe damage observed in the tube area within one to two inches of either end of the hose. Hoses subjected to any extended amount of stop-and-go, engine idle or "on-off" conditions show earlier and more severe damage.

On older model vehicles, the bypass hose is especially subject to electrochemical attack, aggravated by the extremely high temperatures passing through a smaller radius hose. Usually, the smaller the dimension of the hose, the faster ECD damage occurs. In addition, the hose that is most likely to contain air when the vehicle is not running, the upper radiator hose, usually shows the most damage.

_ken :w
 
All of the heater hoses, except for the 2 short straight pieces at the hot water valve on the passenger side, are molded. I replaced all of mine a while back. Don't forget to replace the small hose from the throttle body to the intake manifold, this one is definitely molded and you should replace it while you have the front of the engine apart, it will never be easier to get at that one than while your working on the water pump.
 

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