1996 E150 351w/5.8L

This hose is hitting steering reservoir cap and there is what feels like a small tear.

So the question is, what does this hose carry? It is just dirty vapors or does water/coolant flow through this? Does this little tear effect vacuum at all?

Also, can I just cut a couple of inches off the hose and use a coupler instead of replacing the whole thing? Making it shorter will also keep it from hitting the cap.

Thank you all.

pics...




The hose



where it touches the cap. black stuff all over the hose.



shooting out stuff onto the valve cover?

 

 

50fast is correct, that is an AC line.
Someone has changed out the compressor before and my first guess would be that the hose connection line on the back of the compressor is leaking. That is compressor oil that has leaked out all over the place.
A filter has been installed on the suction line. That filter is required by Ford when ever you change out a bad compressor.






The hoses that connect to the back of the compressor will have a fitting similar to this one.



It bolts on to the back of the compressor which has 2 orings to seal it.


If the seals are leaking then the oil will drip down the lines and get onto other parts. From the looks of it you have either had a big leak in the past or a small leak for a long time. The air from the fan will blow the oil drips all over the place.

as to the hose against the PS pump, if you have the slack, the metal tub for the hose might be able to be bent ever so slightly. If they are aluminum, it will kink or snap into if you bend them too far. There is not much play to bend the line as the rubber part of the hose will have little slack and you don't want the hose connections in a bind.

If you haven't added any refrigerant, your AC does not work?
Also the amount of oil is critical in the system. Without flushing the system you will just be guessing as to the mount you put back in because you have no idea how much has been lost. Just adding freon does not replace the oil.

 

Thanks!!!!

Most likely going to take it to a shop that specializes in AC when it gets a little warmer here.

So what happens if the hose hitting the reservoir cap splits in half? Do I just leak coolant/refrigerant everywhere?

 

If it is just vibrating against it and it doesnt have any real pressure against it, you can try some of the tubing insulation and slip a piece over it. Don't know how well it holds up to gas and oil.. If it splits, yes you will loose the freon if there is any left...

 

Thanks for all the info. Been smelling burning oil out of the engine bay since I bought it. Now I know what it is...