Brand new Gates hose, looks to be about 1mm from the AC compressor. I tried manipulating the hose a bit but it didn't work. Anyone have experience with it being that close? The previous hose had maybe 1/4" clearance, no idea what brand it was.

 

Mine is really close there as well. Ive worried about it rubbing but so far no issues. Yours does look awfully close. No way to pull the hose up a bit on the thermostat housing?

 

Tried flipping the hose? Unless in/out ports are different size. Been a while since I did my hoses, mine are Conti as I recall.

 

The hose won't fit the wrong direction, it will point off in some weird way.

I'll try messing with the position on the thermostat housing, it's a really long neck so it shouldn't be a problem to raise it up some.