Hard and Brittle Windshield Washer Hoses

[Mark F.]

I know there are a lot of folks who have original washer hoses that run from the washer pump to the squirter nozzles. Mine have become so hard and brittle that they crack off the sqirter nipple. I recut the hose with a razor blade, soak the end in hot water for few minutes before sticking it back on the squirter nozzle, but a month later, it is cracked off again.

Has anyone figured out a way to to bring these old hoses back to life with a more permanent fix? I thought about soaking the ends in olive oil (virgin of course!) to add back elasticity to the rubber.

I just hate to replace original stuff.

Thanks ahead for any good ideas!

[Joe L.]

Re: Hard and Brittle Windshield Washer Hoses

I know there are a lot of folks who have original washer hoses that run from the washer pump to the squirter nozzles. Mine have become so hard and brittle that they crack off the sqirter nipple. I recut the hose with a razor blade, soak the end in hot water for few minutes before sticking it back on the squirter nozzle, but a month later, it is cracked off again.

Has anyone figured out a way to to bring these old hoses back to life with a more permanent fix? I thought about soaking the ends in olive oil (virgin of course!) to add back elasticity to the rubber.

I just hate to replace original stuff.

Thanks ahead for any good ideas!

Mark-----


Forget it. I don't know of any way to "rejuvenate" old, brittle rubber. I look forward to the day that some guy comes up with a way to do it, though, since that same guy should be able to come up with a way to make our aged bodies like a teenager again.

Dr. Rebuild will sell you excellent reproductions. I understand he's working on a way to make our aged bodies young again but, so far, no luck.

[Troy P.]

Re: Hard and Brittle Windshield Washer Hoses

Here's the secret fix - soak them in Armor All for a few days or weeks until done. Fill a container with the Armor All and coil up your hoses in there, cover and wait. It will work great for any rubber part.

After years of searching in wrecking yards for the correct spark plug wire boots for the 53-55 six cylinder engines I found a set but they were covered with grease and hard as a rock. Cleaned them up and soaked them in Armor All and they're pliable as new.

[Bill I.]

Re: Hard and Brittle Windshield Washer Hoses

Troy, Your idea may work, but remember, he said they were hard and brittle, I doubt they could be coiled, most likely break up while coiling them up. Bill.

[Vincent F.]

Re: Hard and Brittle Windshield Washer Hoses

Buy new ones, not replacing a dry rotted washer hose because its original is a little crazy.

[Mark F.]

Re: Hard and Brittle Windshield Washer Hoses

Buy new ones, not replacing a dry rotted washer hose because its original is a little crazy.

Yes, it is crazy.

Owners who are really into "originality", like me and a whole bunch of other folks on this DB, are fanatical about maintaining every original part. Finding ways to preserve them is part of the learning process and part of what makes this hobby a blast.

My hoses are not so brittle they can't be worked, but my plan is to disturb them as little as possible. I presently have just the tips that mount to the washer jets wrapped in cotton balls that are saturated in a mix of olive oil and a dash of armor all. The hoses are not cracked where they mount to the washer pump, so I was not about to mess with them.

Will report back to the rest of the crazies after I have results....

Cheers!

[Steve L.]

Re: Hard and Brittle Windshield Washer Hoses

Not being a plastic export, but the reason rubber gets brittle is that some of the material in the rubber eventually evaporates plus the sun destroys the molecular bonds.

I don't think any amount of soaking in anything will bring them back