Silicon Coolant hoses

[mep12345]

For some reason my car is losing a small amount of coolant in the garage when I park up hot (when fan has just cut in/out so at top of temp band), can't see any leaks so I think it is coming out the pressure cap and relief line (haven't proven it yet but it is in the right area - back of engine level with expansion tank on drivers side). Therefore time has come to overhaul cooling system. If I'm going to do this I will get the radiator re-cored and also change the hoses, which although they haven't split they aren't great.

I know ACT and TVR Car parts stock them but I also know some people have issues with them so which suppliers are recommended

Cheers

Mark

PS have done the searches, but nothing really coming up

[GreenV8S]

Find where it's coming from before you spend money. If the pressure cap is ever going to leak, it'll do it after a hot shutdown. So it could be a very simple and cheap fix not requiring expensive new hoses.

[Ragtop]

Hi Mark,

Are you sure you're not just overfilling? With my S3, anything more than around quarter full in the expansion bottle when cold would just blow out of the overflow when hot. Once I got used to the rather low level and left it alone, it was fine.

Regarding silicone hoses, I fitted a set from ACT and they were fine, just took a bit of working out where to fit them (documented in other threads), and I've still got the extra one that didn't fit anywhere!

Regards,
Graham

[mep12345]

They really ought to be done been one of those lower priority jobs for a while. So really only taking the opportunity

[jimed]

For ages after I got the car I was always having to top up the coolant by a little bit. I went round checking the hoses were tight, etc. but couldn't see where I was losing it. I then realised that the pressure cap "seal" at the top of the swirl pot was metal to metal so I made a couple of rubber seals for an old inner tube (went to the local tyre place who were happy to give me one) and have had no problems since. There was often some traces of leaks down the swirl pot but no drips so maybe yours is a worse leak? Could be worth trying the rubber seals if you haven't got them before going down the expensive route (and without the seals that probably won't be any better) as they don't come with the pressure cap (some others caps do have them and that has been posted elsewhere on here).
Jim
Editted to add that if you do have silicon hoses note that they will need to be checked and maybe retightened a couple of times after they are fitted as they slacken off.

Edited by jimed on Sunday 27th September 11:18

[clarenceboddiger]

jimed said:

For ages after I got the car I was always having to top up the coolant by a little bit. I went round checking the hoses were tight, etc. but couldn't see where I was losing it. I then realised that the pressure cap "seal" at the top of the swirl pot was metal to metal so I made a couple of rubber seals for an old inner tube (went to the local tyre place who were happy to give me one) and have had no problems since. There was often some traces of leaks down the swirl pot but no drips so maybe yours is a worse leak? Could be worth trying the rubber seals if you haven't got them before going down the expensive route (and without the seals that probably won't be any better) as they don't come with the pressure cap (some others caps do have them and that has been posted elsewhere on here).
Jim
Editted to add that if you do have silicon hoses note that they will need to be checked and maybe retightened a couple of times after they are fitted as they slacken off.

Edited by jimed on Sunday 27th September 11:18

Recently did mine, then blew a few hoses but now the car cooling system is transformed it runs about 5 deg cooler on average and doesnt need topping up. I also made up a thicker seal using a piece of rubber then I put a coating of copper slip type lubricant on the kneck to ease tightening of the caps as the kneck on my swirl pot is a bit pitted and I dont want it wrecking the seal.

[S2 Giles]

So are people recommending the silicon hoses ?

if so where is the best place to source

[tinks v8S]

i got mine from act
there are a few variations for a v8s
they were great ,any problems sent the wrong ones back till i had them right

[Gerald-TVR]

Useful thread

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

hvdweerden said:

Kevin,

Looked under the bonnet last night and made some pics as well. Reading your last post it seems that we have connected hose 27 differently. My hose 27 is connected to a small L-shaped pipe on top of the thermostat. Heater hose 35 connects to the engine block. Hose 36 connects to the Ford coolant pipe.

In the picture and table I will describe my layout which maybe be wrong instead of yours. Comments please.

For hoses 26 and 27 they used FUEL HOSE on my car for some reason, is this OK ?

br, Han

TVR Parts Cat	Partnr	Partname	Spec	Alt partnr	Qty
1	S28K10018	Radiator Hose	90 long * 35 id / 105 long * 35 id	half of RH1702	2
5	S28K10021	Top Radiator hose (2.8 Only)	?	?	1
5	S28K10026	Top Radiator hose (2.9 Only)	160L*90*38id 90 deg "L" with a kink	RH1888 or OE P/N 90167082 V'hall	1
12	S28K10020	Bottom Hose (Pump To Pipe) 2.8 Only	?	?	1
12A	S28K10024	Bottom Hose (Pump To Pipe) 2.9 Only	300 L (outside curve) x 35 id 135 deg "J"	?	1
14	S28K10019	Bottom hose (Pipe To Radiator)	190 L (outside curve)x 35 id 135 deg "J"	RH1702 or OE P/N 90094679 V'hall	1
26	O25L143A	Overflow Hose (Upper- Swirlpot To Expansion Bottle)	Hose fuel 1 metre od 15	BSAU 15 108/2-L4/C4R	1
27	O25L143A	Overflow Hose (Middle- Swirlpot To Thermostat Housing)	Hose fuel 30 cm od 15	BSAU 15 108/2-L4/C4R	1
28	S28U10189	Overflow Hose (Expansion Bottle)	braided pipe 1 metre 12 dia	?	1
31	O25P021A	Hose (Swirlpot To Water Pump) Cut To Length	Loop shaped and twisted "U" x 16 id	72EG18686AAG68580 * 1167	1
32	- -	From waterpump to Thermostat	around 170L x 170 x 25 id 90 deg "L" but with a kink at the bottom connection	Motorcraft 89TF8548 AB F4SWD	1
33	- -	From bottom of waterpump area to steel pipe	90 dia inside bend half round "U" x 15 id 180 deg.	?	1
34	O25P021A	Heater hose matrix to valve	Ford hose , od 22 cut to length	72EG18686AAG68580 * 1167	1
35	O25P021A	Heater hose valve to engine block	Ford hose , od 22 cut to length	72EG18686AAG68580 * 1167	1
36	O25P021A	Heater hose matrix to coolant pipe	Ford hose , od 22 cut to length	72EG18686AAG68580 * 1167	1
37	- -	Ford solid coolant pipe	-	ford part number 6154329	1

Edited by hvdweerden on Thursday 1st May 22:11

[The Stiglet]

[quote=jimed]
Editted to add that if you do have silicon hoses note that they will need to be checked and maybe retightened a couple of times after they are fitted as they slacken off.

I've just had my engine reconditioned and I went for new silicon hoses myself from ACT. My garage says Tim was very helpful as you can only get hoses for the 2.9 even though I have the 2.8, there are differences. All the hoses managed to fit on fine except one, which was easy to modify and Tim did a deal with any extra hosing we needed.

The important thing, as Jimed said, is to remember to tighten up the jubilee clips after about 150-200 miles - I was surprised how quickly they slacken off.

They look great, you know they're solid and they reduced my average running temperature by about 5 degrees too. Go for it!