← vanagon.com home · Continue the discussion in the forum
VanagonEuroVan
Sort by authorSort by posting dateSort by topicChronological orderMost recent firstShow authorHide authorShow table of contentsHide table of contentsBack to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGONSearch
Subject:Re: What are your experiences with Silicone Coolant hoses?
From:David McNeely <davmcneely40@GMAIL.COM>
Date:Tue, 7 Apr 2020 10:20:11 -0700

Ken, do you sell silicone hoses?  Do you sell regular rubber hoses?
Thanks, mcneely

On Tue, Apr 7, 2020 at 10:15 AM kenneth wilford (Van-Again) <
kenwilfy@comcast.net> wrote:

> 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
>

← Previous in threadNext in thread →
Back to April 2020, week 1
Have something to add on this topic today? Revive this thread in the forum »