Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2012 13:58:43 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Brass Coolant Connectors = Failure?
In-Reply-To: <CAFnDXk1hA=9Bra7w-zqnS=-C5y0mTOkmZ1d_kryCDyjjzn8YJA@mail.gmail.com>
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Plastic type fittings have some "give" and do not have the same expansion
rate as metals. Proper ones also use the bulge, not barbs for coolant hose.
Many folks including me have used brass and copper fittings with little
difficulty.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Jim Felder
Sent: Wednesday, July 04, 2012 1:16 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Brass Coolant Connectors = Failure?
But wouldn't the same be said of a plastic fitting of the same design?
Jim
On Wed, Jul 4, 2012 at 11:39 AM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
wrote:
> The only problem with brass fittings is the design of the barbs and
> choice of clamping systems. Most hoses used in cooling systems are
> designed for smooth fittings and a single bulge to provide added
> sealing and a place for the clamp-hose to lock on. The sharp barbs and
> non-expansion clamps combined with the expansion-contraction cycles
> will over time damage the hose at the fitting or still allow for leaks.
>
> Dennis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> Behalf Of Derek Drew
> Sent: Tuesday, July 03, 2012 8:27 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Brass Coolant Connectors = Failure?
>
> The information throughout the Internet seems to be that brass barbed
> fittings are good to 160 degrees (at 2XXpsi).
>
> I called Dixon Brass and they said not to use the brass barbed Ts and
> pipe joining fittings for engine coolant where the coolant would go
> over 160 degrees (as it would in a car).
>
> This seems to imply that we cannot use brass in the coolant system, at
> least not the common barbed fittings, almost all of which, where a
> rating is given, are rated to 160F.
>
> So, I called McMaster and they said that you absolutely CAN use brass
> barbed fittings in the coolant system of a vehicle, and said the 160
> degrees rating was a sort of a mistake that keeps getting repeated
> over and over again, but that its source was originally from the
> rating of *hose* that was connected to the brass fittings, but that
> the brass fittings themselves will absolutely stand up to the needs of an
automotive cooling system (210F?).
>
> Does anyone have any further info or experiences?
>
> Has anyone on this list ever had a FAILURE of a brass coolant system
> barbed fitting?
>
> The reason I ask is that there are some of these fittings in my
> coolant system right now, and I have to decide whether to go dig them
> all out and replace them with OEM VW plastic fittings, or Gates plastic
hose fittings.
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Derek Drew
> Washington DC / New York
> derekdrew@derekmail.com
> Email is best normally but...
> PHONE: 202-966-7907 (Call the number at left normally) (alt/cell for
> diligent calling only): 703-408-1532
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