Coolant hoses - cut them yourself from coolant hose?

[Paulinwales]

I am to change the coolant hoses before too long and looking at them just looks like you could buy the hose at the correct diameter, and cut it to the length of the old one with a stanley knife, and save yourself a fortune?

is this valid reasoning or just stupid thinking. It's only nylon tubing after all!
Was also thinking of smearing some silcon sealant to ensure a good seal inside, and using new clips (or is it ok to use the old ones) to make sure.
I have seen the most common 5 sold for around £70 which is ok, but would it not be much cheaper to do it your self sfor around £20 . The bongo has the orriginal hoses

any views
I have read the opinions on nylon vs silicon pipes and would opt for nylon type

was alos going to flush the radiator as has been treated (not by me) with K-Seal - How should i do this?
Stick a hose pipe down the radiator hole and blast away? someone advise saodium hydroxide - drains cleaner (small amount) but I am skeptical - hace seen what it does to aluminium foil

rgds Paul

[francophile1947]

It shouldn't be a problem with straight hoses, but not very easy with the shaped ones - I'd be very wary myself.
Before you do anything, do you know why the K Seal was installed? - no point replacing anything until you know that. If it was installed because of leaking radiator or head gasket, flushing the system could possibly let the leaks start again.

[widdowson2008]

Ady and Munroman are the best folk to answer this fully, but personally I would stick to the original Mazda rubber hoses and clips, and avoid the silicon ones. They will stand the test of time.
You need to check the hose construction (braiding) and make sure you are comparing like for like.

If a cheaper hose fails, then it could end up VERY expensive.

Just my opinion.

[teenmal]

Hi Paul,

Years ago we used to fit convoluted hose,you could buy in certain lengths and diameters.
It really depends on how acute the angle of the bends are.


something like this.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CONVOLUTED-RUBBER ... 43a5271be6

[munroman]

I agree with what Steve has said, the original hoses and clips have worked for at least 10 years, so why experiment?

I would not suggest using silicone sealant, it liberates acetic acid as it sets, so you will end up with acid pressed against the metal fittings, doesn't seem a good idea to me.

I am not sure what you mean by Nylon and Silicone, in both cases the base 'cloth' the hoses are made from should be non glass, the coating would be Silicone or a synthetic rubber, usually EPDM or Nitrile.

As for using sodium hydroxide in a Bongo cooling system, what do you think?

Personally I would be worried as to why someone has spent £30 odds on a leak stopper........

[Northern Bongolow]

there are some really good threads on here(do a search for silicon hoses and clips) that covers most of the pluses and minuses of each. the clips in my opinion are more important than the hoses themselves.
i am more money concious than most (tight northerner),and have a really good hose supplier near me,but when i looked at the make your own option i found it rather more expensive as you have all the different sizes to worry about,the diff temps that each part will be working at,and of course the clips,then the wall thickness comes into the equation.
even most of the copy part/hoses that are available on an auction site are really not up to the job,they are poorly constructed etc. they are usually aimed at the standard pressures (0.9 bar) when the bongo requires 1.1 bar.
when you see a gen mazda hose in your hand and a copy part the difference is obvious.
hope this helps.