Only 2 month, the vacuum destroyed them?
Whose running silicone hoses? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter thetoyotaman
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I have the HPS silicone radiator hoses
Initilally I had a light seepage but then put OEM clamps on everything and not a peep since.
That was 105,000 miles ago
I am doing a new thermostat and bypass o-rings next weekend along with a radiator flush.
My blue silicone radiator hoses look good; any reason to change them out after this mileage?
I'd like to go another 100k before I rebuild the engine
I know what you're going to say...
Initilally I had a light seepage but then put OEM clamps on everything and not a peep since.
That was 105,000 miles ago
I am doing a new thermostat and bypass o-rings next weekend along with a radiator flush.
My blue silicone radiator hoses look good; any reason to change them out after this mileage?
I'd like to go another 100k before I rebuild the engine
I know what you're going to say...
Not the expert as I've never run silicone hoses, but IMHO f they're not visibly leaking then no probably no big reason to change them. Silicone hoses tends to seep water directly through the sidewalls but at a very slow rate so over time you may have to add a bit of water to top up the system to keep the same coolant-water ratio, maybe not enough to make a difference either way??
On the other hand, Toyota radiator hoses are inexpensive and last a very long time.
On the other hand, Toyota radiator hoses are inexpensive and last a very long time.
One thing with silicone hoses - for coolant applications they're probably great. But for vacuum/breather applications they are not unless you use fluoro-lined silicone that is rated for oil resistance. Standard POS (Plain Old Silicone lol) hose stock will break down under heat/oil.
This will also affect coolant hoses externally if there are oil leaks, etc. around the engine that get onto the hoses.
This will also affect coolant hoses externally if there are oil leaks, etc. around the engine that get onto the hoses.
I would be more worried about the age of the hoses vs mileage? How old are the hoses?
About 7 years old; I have 325,000 on my 1997 and want to set it up to go another 100k while I slowly build a replacement engine.
I just replaced the front heater core box (full dash removal...fun!), heater control valve with fresh hoses back there and did rear heater delete.
Since I was in the dash, I put in a new evaporator and expansion valve and a few other things. Once I had the A/C system open, I figured I should just do a new compressor, condenser and dryer.
Since I'm going to need to re-fill the coolant system, might as well do a thermostat and the bypass o-rings.
Then those blue silicone radiator hoses staring at me...ugh
I gave in and just ordered a 3-piece OEM set from Wit's End...I'm stopping there! Haha
I did a brand new OEM brass radiator 105k ago, so not going to touch that.
Thanks for the comments guys
Silicon hoses are useful in extremely high heat exposure. If silicone does last longer in normal heat exposure environments it’s not enough to justify the price.
For reference:
My 80 has upper and lower radiator hoses from Napa purchased in 2014 still good to go. My 2005 Dodge Cummins still has the factory installed hoses, all of them good to go including the short section of silicone hose joining two steel heater pipes less than an inch from the bottom of the exhaust manifold.
Your hoses are probably fine as long as they fit properly.
