Date: Tue, 24 May 2005 21:19:48 -0400
Reply-To: Ken Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Ken Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: That little s-shaped hose
In-Reply-To: <000c01c560b3$f3794270$6400a8c0@masterpc>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed
Most of the coolant hoses we sell in our coolant hose kits (probably
about 90%) are VW. The rest are German. Getting a hose from the dealer
is a sure way to pay more for it. Quality should be about the same as
aftermarket since most of them have the VW logo stamped on them.
Sometimes you get what you pay for. Other times you just pay.
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com
Dennis Haynes wrote:
>Buy the proper hose from the dealer. It costs what it costs for a
>reason. Most aftermarket hoses seem to only last a few years. The ends
>of preformed hoses are designed to be clamped. Cutting a hose will leave
>ends that will not last. The hose gets a lot of stress from engine
>movement. Also use the proper spring clamps.
>
>Dennis
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
>Of Robert Fisher
>Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2005 6:22 PM
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: That little s-shaped hose
>
>I had a small leak from that hose- actually I was lucky it was only a
>small
>leak as the hose looked like hell and was soft, spongy, etc. I checked
>with
>my local import FLAPS and they were going to have to order it at what
>seemed
>to me to be an exorbitant price for a little piece of hose. I went down
>to
>Napa and we found a much longer piece that had the same diameter and
>approximately the same curves near one end- I just trimmed it down and I
>had
>basically an identical hose.
>I was under the van not long ago and I thought to check out the hose
>while I
>was there- it's going to hell again. None of the other hoses have any
>noticeable issues, so I'm thinking either I have a specific problem
>that's
>causing trauma to that hose or there's an issue with placement or design
>or
>something.
>I'm sure at this point that my radiator needs to be reconditioned or
>replaced but it's not running particularly hot so I'm not convinced that
>had
>anything to do with it.
>Basically at this point I'm planning on changing that hose out every
>time I
>do my regular coolant/system maintenance, or as needed, whichever comes
>first. I'm wondering if there's something more substantial available
>that
>can be used instead of regular heater hose to enhance the
>longevity/reliability of that piece- any thoughts?
>
>Cya,
>Robert
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Warren Lail" <wlail@OU.EDU>
>To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2005 7:16 AM
>Subject: That little s-shaped hose
>
>
>
>
>>When the engine blew on Billy Bones on that fateful journey from NC
>>
>>
>about
>
>
>>a year and a half ago, it was that same little s-shaped hose that was
>>
>>
>the
>
>
>>culprit. It was about 20 degrees outside and 3:00AM. I was driving
>>
>>
>along
>
>
>>and my temp light blinked, then stopped. I looked at my temp guage as
>>
>>
>it
>
>
>>dropped! I instantly pulled off the road, but it was too late. Steam
>>
>>
>was
>
>
>>rolling into the night air, and the days of my mechanical adventures
>>
>>
>just
>
>
>>beginning.
>>
>>Because of that experience, I changed every hose on my Vanagon when I
>>installed the new engine. Those hoses can and will fail
>>
>>
>catastrophically.
>
>
>>Unfortunately I had to learn this the hard way.
>>
>>
>>Warren Lail
>>88 Westy "Billy Bones"
>>
>>
>
>
>
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