what is the problem with using Silicone coolant hose?

[chipvan]

Know some rave about the stuff and some hate it..
But it seems to come in different sizes,more than standard coolant hose.

can some one fill me in on this thanks

[haydn callow]

difficult to seal where they connect onto metal pipes/stubs....very expensive constant pressure clamps are a big help (NORMA CLAMPS).....most peeps who have tried them end up dumping them

[chipvan]

Thanks for that..so take it they dont grip well with clamps ect as they look a bit thinner?

[haydn callow]

Not thinner but more spongy.......not worth the risk on a Bongo

[chipvan]

Thanks,i was not thinking of using them for main hoses but for plumbing in a heatexchanger,iam looking for 11.5 or 12mm hose and cant find that it rubber yet.

will take note of what you say,and thank you

[chipvan]

poss 11mm

[helen&tony]

Hi
You might find luck with an agricultural equipment supplier...I got rubber water hose by the metre locally- pressure rating well over normal car applications, and cheap!
Cheers
Helen

[Jim the Box]

The chemical crop sprayers they use in the fields, (the ones with the big booms), use several different sizes of small bore rubber hoses, they are high pressure rated and a bit thicker walled than your standard rubber hose. I had considered purchasing from the suppliers of these hoses at one point, (as the bongo shop did not have all the V6 hoses in stock), "Sprayer Care" in Dunbar East Lothian could supply me with all the small bore hoses cut to my requested length the same day, (ready for pick-up), however Ian is now sourcing all hoses for the V6 petrol engined bongo's and I have plan to purchase a full set for my V6 as soon as Ian gets a set in stock.
The UK national company is Knights Farm machinery. (the company that supplied the hoses etc, to my people locally in East Lothian) they may be able to put you in touch with someone in your area, I have no experience of using these hoses, but with same day collection from a place local the hoses could be fitted as a temporary fix until the Mazda hose is ordered and delivered.
Have any forum members tested agricultural standard hose successfully

[al & chris]

Silicone hoses we have a full set on and have for a few years. They do tend to weep a little find we are constantly chasing water drips around. But had no major probs with them,just makes me check over van more regularly . Low coolant alarm is useful.

[robdrinky]

We have a full set of silicone hoses on our 2.5tdi and initially had problems getting them to seal until l i fitted the constant pressure (norma type)clips.no problems since then and thats a few years back now.

[chipvan]

Silicone hoses we have a full set on and have for a few years. They do tend to weep a little find we are constantly chasing water drips around. But had no major probs with them,just makes me check over van more regularly . Low coolant alarm is useful.

Oh nooo i cant risk it then!

[teenmal]

Hi,we have been using silicone hoses for years,I struggle to find fault with them,if they are the proper size/spec hoses for the job they were intended for and properly fitted,any problems contact your supplier.

PS,I have a friend with an engine that cost MEGA Bucks,all the coolant hoses are made of Silicone.

[chipvan]

some love em some are chasing leaks..i thought that more would say They are great tbh,

thanks for your input guys

[MountainGoat]

They work out more expensive than original Mazda hoses if you factor in the very expensive constant pressure clamps. It is using cheap Jubilee clips that are not perfectly round and don't expand with the hoses that cause the leaks.

Cheapest option (and some say the best) is to carefully remove the original Mazda clamps without breaking them, then reuse them with the new hoses. Even if you need to buy new Mazda clamps they are cheaper than the Norma Clamps and eaiser to obtain once haydn's supply runs out (sourced from Australia).

You cannot reuse the original Mazda clamps with Silicone hoses as they have a greater overall circumference.

Tony