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Does anyone know when Ford began using EPDM-compounded hoses in the cooling system? This is a high-tech rubber formulation that is VERY resistant to heat and ozone, the very things that have traditionally degraded cooling system components.
It's downside is that it's not good with petroleum-based products, so grease and oil should be kept away from it as much as possible.
I suspect that our trucks came from the factory with these hoses, but I'm not sure.
Even though I read about a lot of them getting replaced, when was the last time you heard anyone here describe a hose failure?
i do know that EPDM is used on most camper roofs. and you are correct petroleum based cleaners are not supposed to be used on the EPDM membrane. so if in fact the hoses are made of this then we need to be carefull of what we use to clean the engine also.
Given the environment they must live in, I suspect the specific formulations are somewhat "forgiving" of petro-chemicals, but you have a very good point!