Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2020 13:14:30 -0400
Reply-To: "kenneth wilford (Van-Again)" <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "kenneth wilford (Van-Again)" <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: What are your experiences with Silicone Coolant hoses?
In-Reply-To: <1006267086.2053833.1586278036493@mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
Here is my experience with stock, rubber hoses. They hold up really well
unless they are getting oil on them or they are exposed to exhaust
temperature heat or they are getting rubbed on by a belt.
! have customers calling me that have coolant hoses that have lasted since
1982! They are still good, but the people are restoring the van and want
to replace them as PM. So the stock rubber hoses lasted almost 40 years
unless they get oil on them, they get cut by a belt, or they get fried by
an exhaust leak. How much better can the silicon hoses possibly be? Are
they going to last 50 years? Maybe but I am not really going to care at
that point.
I understood the silicon hose thing when there is a hose that you can't
possibly get otherwise. In other words there are several of the Syncro
hoses that VC has made out of silicon rubber, and that is the only source
for them. If you are going to have a coolant hose made in small runs in
the USA, it is going to cost more than a large production in
another country, so making them out of silicon based rubber (not sure what
this entails) is a way for people to feel better about paying extra money
for them. I am just glad that they are available. If they were available
cheaper out of normal rubber I would probably buy that instead.
I can see paying more if you absolutely have to because you can't get it
any other way. But for me, the stock rubber hoses last just fine. I mean
they will outlast your head gaskets on the waterboxer and then you will
want to replace the hoses again anyway so what is the point?
Finally the silicon rubber hoses are thicker than the stock and stiffer.
So understand that when you buy them clearance with fittings and other
hoses can be an issue.
Let the hate mail commence.
Ken
On Tue, Apr 7, 2020 at 12:47 PM Michael Magnani <mfmagnani@sbcglobal.net>
wrote:
> Hi Ken,Three Years ago, I bought the silicone hose kit from VC. I also
> bought 50 feet of of silicone heater hose and a new radiator, as well as
> eliminating as much plastic from the system as possible. We've been on two
> month-long road trips since then with no problems.Mike M
> On Tuesday, April 7, 2020, 08:42:00 AM PDT, Kenneth O'Connor <
> kenneth.oconnor@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Hello! The recent cooling hose discussion got me thinking about coolant
> hoses and hose clamps. Does anyone have experience using the silicone hoses
> that GW and VC are offering? They come with special clamps for use with
> silicone hoses. Are they better? Are they a gimmick? What are your
> thoughts?
>
> Thank You,
>
> Ken
> (941)323-4710
>
>
--
Thanks,
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com