:::RHMT::: Real Home Made Turbo

General Category => Hybrid/Tech => Topic started by: stealthiskey on April 28, 2009, 12:36:28 AM

Title: silicone radiator hoses worth it?
Post by: stealthiskey on April 28, 2009, 12:36:28 AM
D16z6

Need new radiator hoses.  Should I buy silicone ones or do they suck more than EPDM rubber?  Wheres a good place that sells em for <$100?  ebay?


Also, if my upper rad hose is real leaky, the engine will be alright if i keep adding water to it right?  The temp gauge will indicate if it looses too much coolant right?
Title: Re: silicone radiator hoses worth it?
Post by: patsmx5 on April 28, 2009, 12:40:09 AM
D16z6

Need new radiator hoses.  Should I buy silicone ones or are they just a lot of hype?  Wheres a good place that sells em for <$100?  ebay?


Also, if my upper rad hose is real leaky, the engine will be alright if i keep adding water to it right?  The temp gauge will indicate if it looses too much coolant right?

Depends. Stock rubber works fine for a few years. On miatas, the lower hose goes under the exhaust manifold, sorta, and does get exposed to somewhat high heat. But if you just wrap it with a radiant-heat-reflecting material then it will be fine. Same would apply to whatever you're doing, but it's not a pretty as silicone. Also, I'd use some good clamps too. My car gets belts and hoses every other year usually. But it's a DD.
Title: Re: silicone radiator hoses worth it?
Post by: stealthiskey on April 28, 2009, 12:46:27 AM
thanks for the quick response.  I also should add I have an aftermarket rad, which means the rad in/out are 1.25" where the stock civic hoses are made for 1.125" (block fittings are 1.125")  I think silicone would handle the stretch better.  some ebay ones are pretty cheap, but look of decent quality...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Honda-Civic-92-00-SOHC-EX-DX-LX-SILICONE-RADIATOR-HOSE_W0QQitemZ250412720130QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item250412720130&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=72%3A1171 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Honda-Civic-92-00-SOHC-EX-DX-LX-SILICONE-RADIATOR-HOSE_W0QQitemZ250412720130QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item250412720130&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=72%3A1171)
Title: Re: silicone radiator hoses worth it?
Post by: patsmx5 on April 28, 2009, 12:58:46 AM
Yeah they're like 100 bucks for a miata vs. OEM hoses for like 40 I think. I just buy OEM, but for that price (if they weren't fucking blue) I might would buy silicone. I don't think 1/8" will be a problem with rubber or silicone.
Title: Re: silicone radiator hoses worth it?
Post by: BoostForLife on April 28, 2009, 02:15:17 AM
Autozone hoses work fine for me.
For better fit, get some flex pipe in diameter you need and route it the way you want. I have never used it, but have seen plenty people use them to know they work fine.
Title: Re: silicone radiator hoses worth it?
Post by: stealthiskey on April 28, 2009, 11:23:47 PM
Stopped by pep boys after work.  Upper rad hose was only $10 and in stock so what the hell.  Being new it had no problem sliding over the 1.25" barb.  Maybe I'll get silicone when the lower one breaks.