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Flexable coolant / radiator hose.
chris-g - 6/9/13 at 12:09 PM

Hello All. I need to replace some very old and perished radiator hose currently consisting of a rubber 90 degree bend joined to an aluminium straight and another rubber piece to connect to a second aluminium straight. To reduce the number of joints in what is a short length, I want replace the existing with one piece, ideally a flexible rubber hose that will form a 90 degree bend. The bend doesn't have to be sharp. I am looking at this type of flexible hose : http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/170692515500?ssPageName=S TRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2648
I would appreciate your views and experiences of this type of flexible hose and would also like to know just how flexible is it?
Thanks in advance.

Mr Whippy - 6/9/13 at 12:19 PM

it's as flexable as it looks but not as soft as orginal shaped hoses and on some plastic radiators its a bit of a strain on the pipe fitting. Won't hold its shape at all even after years on the car, always wants to go straight again. Never had any issues with it though.

Bluemoon - 6/9/13 at 12:21 PM

quote:
Originally posted by chris-g
Hello All. I need to replace some very old and perished radiator hose currently consisting of a rubber 90 degree bend joined to an aluminium straight and another rubber piece to connect to a second aluminium straight. To reduce the number of joints in what is a short length, I want replace the existing with one piece, ideally a flexible rubber hose that will form a 90 degree bend. The bend doesn't have to be sharp. I am looking at this type of flexible hose : http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/170692515500?ssPageName=S TRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2648
I would appreciate your views and experiences of this type of flexible hose and would also like to know just how flexible is it?
Thanks in advance.


Convoluted hoses are not great for flow, tend to cause a restriction due to the convolutions. Maybe a silicone L shaped hose would do (I think some have long tails...)

loggyboy - 6/9/13 at 12:52 PM

These guys are quite cheap, and they do a smooth finish flexi to reduce restrictions:

Black Silicone Hose Flexible Bendy Wire Auto Flex Smoot

steve m - 6/9/13 at 01:00 PM

I took the flexi hoses off, as I never felt the were up to the job, and went back to rubber bends with alui tube in the middle,
as you say lots of jubilee clips, but also makes it an easier setup

steve

T66 - 6/9/13 at 02:01 PM

I recently bought 2 lengths of the flexi pipe, it isnt a flexi as I expected and kinks easily leading to a crease in the pipe as they are internally wired.


Personally I think alloy bends and joiners makes a neater finish.

loggyboy - 6/9/13 at 02:39 PM

How flexible is the basic straight silcone hoses? Obvisouly depends on the lenght, bu I assume a 40cm lengh could be staggered by a few cms.

chris-g - 6/9/13 at 09:02 PM

Thanks for the comments chaps, its given some things to think about.