Blue radiator hose
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
From: Eagle Rock CA
Blue radiator hose
I will be driving my truck across country. I have been told the blue hose is better than the black. Anybody try it. Where can I buy it if it is better. My truck has the original radiator but a 350 engine. So do I have to buy a hose for that setup or is it flexible enough that I do not have to worry about that like the chrome flexible hoses.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 8,813
Likes: 13
From: Littleton, New Hampshire
Okay, I'll bite...blue hose? Is the actual color of the hose blue or is that a brand name or something? I went to NAPA to get a drive belt of a specified length for my truck and they brought out a green belt. I told them I didn't want one black belt and one green one so they found me another black one. I asked why it was green and the response was that it was for an industrial engine or lawn mower. Is a blue hose perhaps an industrial application? 
Vern
Vern
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 305
Likes: 2
From: in a house, near sherwood
and well worth the extra bucks, i used to own a cab company, never had a silicone hose go bad, and some of them were 10 years old with 500k on them. i installed them on the 50, no problems. napa can get them.
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,190
Likes: 2
From: Riverside, So Cal
Blue. Oh...I like the idea of blue. My engine is blue. So is my air cleaner. Ooooh. Blue.
On an engineering note, if these are silicone, and see heavy duty, is should be noted that silicone will take higher heat, is more flexible, durable and not subject to UV degradation near as much as nitrile (black) rubber........and, don't forget... it's blue!
On an engineering note, if these are silicone, and see heavy duty, is should be noted that silicone will take higher heat, is more flexible, durable and not subject to UV degradation near as much as nitrile (black) rubber........and, don't forget... it's blue!
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
The biggest issue with silicone hoses is keeping it secured on the metal connections. It's soft so worm clamps eat into it and wire clamps have a hard time keeping it in place since it's a slippery little bugger of a material. The tuners use it a lot for connecting turbochargers to the intakes because of it's heat resistance, but it has a nasty habbit of blowing the connection off at inopportune moments. A commonly used trick remedy especially if you can't find some of the new specially designed band clamps is to clean the metal thoroughly with brake cleaner then spray the metal with a medium coat of aerosol hair spray just before slipping the hose on. Don't laugh, it works!
Trending Topics
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,552
Likes: 0
From: Adams,CO.
Do NOT use conventional clamps on silicone. Use the s/s exhaust pipe clamps which have no worm drive perfs ( openings ). Jegs has a few versions as well as race shops and hose fabricators. Oddly, I have not seen at exhaust shops.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 8,813
Likes: 13
From: Littleton, New Hampshire
Originally Posted by AXracer
silicone hose comes in a lot of different colors and is popular with the import tuner crowd, perhaps you could find it offered in one of the tuner magazines. It is very flexible and very durable.
I do like the idea of blue colored hoses though. How would they look with green belts...sorta Christmasy?
Vern
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
Originally Posted by GreatNorthWoods
I do like the idea of blue colored hoses though. How would they look with green belts...sorta Christmasy?
Vern
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 7,493
Likes: 7
From: Erie, pa
I think thats too much information to try and learn. I'll stick to the Ol hard rubber hoses that blow 20 miles from nowhere, and clamps that need tightened every 100 miles or so.
I'm Traditional.
I'm Traditional.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
wallster
1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
4
Nov 16, 2013 04:20 PM
