The inside of braided coolant lines are typically made from EPDM which is a great choice for coolant use. We can only make hoses that are fabric reinforced in silicone like heater hoses.

 

I appreciate your info and experience.

and the properties of a reinforced viton hose doesn't work, or too hard to make reliable?

I wonder about the practicality of braded steel coolant lines.

 

I tried steel braided but without the couplers you get some nice splinters. You can wrap up the ends but then it looks ugly. I never tried with couplers because it requires removing the turbos and a tool to flare the pipe ends. I also tried the blue crimpless hose that Baker sells. It's the one that doesnt use couplers, you just slip in the Earls fittings on the ends. Anyhow, that thing is a biach! it's not very bendable nor is it expandable enough to slip on easily and to remove it I have to slice it off with a razor. I finally settled on Silicone but I would be alot more comfortable with reinforced silicone or bettter yet reinforced viton for all my water hoses

 

I should say that using Viton for coolant lines is like throwing away money; It is not needed. Viton has not better resistance to coolant or water than EPDM or Silicone. When choosing an elastomer for coolant use I would first choose silicone because of the longevity of 10-20 years and then EPDM. EPDM will have the same resistance as the silicone hose but will not last as long. The heat cycle of coolant will make EPDM hoses crack over several years.

 

HTS
I am very interested in a Viton kit, however I realistically can't afford to do this until 2/25/05. Is this possible? I, like the others that purchased small samples of McMaster- Carr's Viton, was not happy with their thin walls. I have been a believer in Viton for thirty years and would never have used silicone. I don't frequent this website as often as I would like due to time constraints and was pleased to see this thread. Please advise.

 

That's good to know, thanks. I assumed my busted trubo coolant hoses were from pressure. I have not had any problems with the silicone replacements but I have had little use of my car. The reinforced silicone would give me better peace of mind though.

 

Braid-Reinforced Silicone Rubber Tubing
• Temperature Range: -65° to +350° F
• Use with food and beverage, chemicals,
and water
• Color: Semi-clear (translucent) white
• Durometer, Shore A: 60-70
• Tensile Strength: 1000 psi
• Elongation: 350%
• Material Meets: FDA (food and beverage), NSF-51 (food)
• Fittings: Barbed (see pages 111-118 )

Also known as hose, tubing is reinforced with a polyester braid to handle much higher pressures than nonreinforced tubing. Remains flexible under a wide range of temperatures and resists UV exposure. It's nontoxic and won't impart odors or tastes. Peroxide used in the forming (curing) process. Sterilization rated for steam (autoclave).

well darn, look what I found at mcmaster

anybody have any recommendations, and/or sizings for use as coolant hose?

 

We have finished running the Viton. It has just taken a little longer to wash it all. Unlike silicone, Viton is cured in an autoclave with a heavy dusting of mica to prevent the coils from curing into one solid blob. We then have to wash all of the mica off the outer surface to make sure it doesnt look like a powdered donut. In any case we should be finished up with the washing tomorrow morning so kits will be available first thingnext week.

88and93-
We have only a few kits sold at this time so we should have some available by the 25th.

 

I had a devil of a time finding any of these in small sizes. I finally located some at a diesel-engine repair and rebuilding shop - diesels use them for turbo control systems, just like we do.

 

Well we have finally finished the Viton kits. We have only 10 left in stock. The cost is $236.00 shipped anywhere in the lower 48 states.

 

You have a PM! I need one so send that payment information!

thanks

Terry7

 

Just talked to Jim and made a phone order! I just dialed up the sales dept and lucked out when Jim answered! Are you a one man band Jim?

Thanks Terry7

 

I have 2 locations. I got tired of driving 160 miles one way to the office so I opened a small warehouse about 2 miles from my house and hadle all of the administration out of this building. The rent on this warehouse is actually less than what I used to spend on the freeway everyday back and forth between home and the shop!

 

HTS I sent you a PM, need payment info.

Thanks

 

PM sent back!

 

Need payment info.

Thanks.

 

HTS, Please put me down for a kit. I need a pm to tell me what you want me to do up here in Canada. Payment info and shipping etc.

Thanks

 

Just paypal'd you for a set

 

Julian,
Your kit will ship tomorrow via Fedex ground.
Thank you for the order!
Jim

 

Jim, I got mine today and boy does it look good. I will feel so high drivin down the road knowing I have an extreamly long time before I will need to change vacume hoses!! Boy is it heavy too. Six pounds of Viton Oh ya!

 

Hey jim,
I called you today wondering were my kit was. Just after I got off the phone with you, fedex showed up with my kit. the only reason I called was because fedex had showed up once already today.

Anyways the kit looks better than expected. First class product. I will gladly do buisness with you in the future. Maybe sooner than later. I am putting a intercooler system together and might whant to use your couplers. Maybe you could soot me a PM with some prices?

 

All of the pre-ordered Viton kits have been shipped. We have 4 of them left in stock ready for immediate shipment. Thank you all who have participated in this. I feel that we will start making this a stock item in the future.

Jim

 

Jim,

I got my hoses yesterday, they look good. I never did a hose job because I did not believe in the silicone route, glad you put this together., and thank you for your support to the FD.

Julian

 

Jim:
PM sent
Bob