Heater/Radiator Hose lubrication

[Jeffrey S.]

Can anyone suggest an anti-seize or lubricant I can put inside these hose so that they won't seize to the fittings? Would traditional anti-seize compound by OK? Any advise is greatly appreciated.
Jeff

[Bill H.]

Re: Heater/Radiator Hose lubrication

I've used WD40 for many years because it dries out but leaves a film that makes removal easier. I also use it to mount tires, makes breaking the bead much easier.

[Larry M.]

Re: Heater/Radiator Hose lubrication

Can anyone suggest an anti-seize or lubricant I can put inside these hose so that they won't seize to the fittings? Would traditional anti-seize compound by OK? Any advise is greatly appreciated.
Jeff

Jeff:

When I put a hose on, I generally want it to "stick" and be leak-free. That's why I use a concentrated dishwashing soap and water solution on the hose ends. It helps the hose to slide on the metal end fitting and then dries leak free. However, I still use a hose clamp on the ends. I remove the hoses when they appear to need replacing (years), and cut them away with a sharp razor blade. No twisting or turning to break a soldered connection. etc.

For racing applications where the hose comes off every few weeks or so, I generally use Vaseline on the hose ends. This seems to work well, but not sure it would still be easy to remove the hose after years of service.

Larry

[Duke W.]

Re: Heater/Radiator Hose lubrication

...a very thin film of silicone grease. I recommend against any type of petroleum based product since they may attack the rubber compound. Silicone grease won't degrade elastomers.

Duke

[Terry M.]

Re: Heater/Radiator Hose lubrication

I use silicone grease for the hose ends. This has worked for me for decades with all sorts of clamps. The guy who taught me Automotive insisted on using the old Indian Hi-Tac. He didn't want any come backs. Since he spent most of his career in a dealership he wasn't worried about who paid for the hose, and cut the old one off all the time. I still have the original hoses on my 1970, with silicone at the ends. I also wipe a bit of the silicone grease under the aircraft type worm clamps used on the 1970> Corvettes on the advice of a former employee of the Wittek Company.

Painters hate me.

[Larry M.]

Re: Heater/Radiator Hose lubrication

I can certainly agree with Duke and Terry regarding the silicone grease. I have also used this in the past. Although I understand what Duke said about petro products and heater/radiator hoses, I have never had an issue using a light film of Vaseline. This is based on (slightly) over 50 years repairing these cars....virtually every make and model that Detroit made.

FWIW.

Larry

[Stuart F.]

Re: Heater/Radiator Hose lubrication

I found one exception to this practice, and that is with heater hose connections at the heater. My specific reference is to a typical C-2 (can't speak much anymore to any other applications - I forgot). The beaded brass nipples on the heater core tend to get beat up over time and distorted even long before the core needs replacing. Then, when you go to put on new hoses, they tend to seep when you use the proper ring clamps. Your first instinct is to put on a screw type clamp, but you want it to look original. I take the ring clamp and put it on the hose upsteam of the nipple, apply a little sealer to the inside of the hose, then clamp it with a screw clamp enough to keep it from leaking for at least a couple of heat cycles. I then run the screw clamp all the way out to remove it, then move the ring clamp up in place beyond the bead (or what is left of it). I also found this necessary to do on replacement cores that don't seem to have as good of a bead on the nipples as the original.

Stu Fox

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Heater/Radiator Hose lubrication

Thank you all for your responses. I will go with the silicone. I do't care about removing the hoses 5 years from now but I put the freshly rebuilt engine back in its birthplace on Saturday and even though the engine has been run in by the builder, If something goes wrong and it has to come out, I don't want to have to cut the hoses off. I am being positive and figuring the engine is in to stay for the next 44 years!
Jeff

[Terry M.]

Re: Heater/Radiator Hose lubrication

I found one exception to this practice, and that is with heater hose connections at the heater. My specific reference is to a typical C-2 (can't speak much anymore to any other applications - I forgot). The beaded brass nipples on the heater core tend to get beat up over time and distorted even long before the core needs replacing. Then, when you go to put on new hoses, they tend to seep when you use the proper ring clamps. Your first instinct is to put on a screw type clamp, but you want it to look original. I take the ring clamp and put it on the hose upsteam of the nipple, apply a little sealer to the inside of the hose, then clamp it with a screw clamp enough to keep it from leaking for at least a couple of heat cycles. I then run the screw clamp all the way out to remove it, then move the ring clamp up in place beyond the bead (or what is left of it). I also found this necessary to do on replacement cores that don't seem to have as good of a bead on the nipples as the original.
Stu Fox

Stu,
The guys at Wittek told me all of the reasons their tower clamps were superior to anything else available, but they admitted their biggest problem was at the heater fittings. The installer would run the clamp down so tight that it crushed the copper fitting. To counter that they (Wittek) made the screw diameter on the clamp small enough that the screw would sheer before the clamp could crush the heater core fitting. I cannot tell you how many AIR fittings I have seen on original cars with the head missing from the tower clamp because there is nothing to give at these positions but the clamp screw. I suspect the screw size they used was a non-standard size because reproduction tower clamps can be easily spotted due to the larger diameter screw.

[Joe L.]

Re: Heater/Radiator Hose lubrication

Can anyone suggest an anti-seize or lubricant I can put inside these hose so that they won't seize to the fittings? Would traditional anti-seize compound by OK? Any advise is greatly appreciated.
Jeff

Jeff------


I've used silicone spray lubricant for this purpose for years.

[William F.]

Re: Heater/Radiator Hose lubrication

Stuart ,What kind of "sealer"?

[Larry E.]

Re: Heater/Radiator Hose lubrication

Jeff------


I've used silicone spray lubricant for this purpose for years.

Joe: Would GM Lubriplate be considered as a silicone grease?? Larry

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Heater/Radiator Hose lubrication

I have 2 kinds of silicone lubricant- commonly available silicone spray and a tube of Dow Corning "4X Compound" (probably dates back to the Johnson administration). I thought that the 4x which much thicker would hold up better than the spray. Any thoughts?
Jeff

[Dick W.]

Re: Heater/Radiator Hose lubrication

I use silicone grease for the hose ends. This has worked for me for decades with all sorts of clamps. The guy who taught me Automotive insisted on using the old Indian Hi-Tac. He didn't want any come backs. Since he spent most of his career in a dealership he wasn't worried about who paid for the hose, and cut the old one off all the time. I still have the original hoses on my 1970, with silicone at the ends. I also wipe a bit of the silicone grease under the aircraft type worm clamps used on the 1970> Corvettes on the advice of a former employee of the Wittek Company.

Painters hate me.

I was taught to use Permatex #2 on hoses. I use this tool when removing hoses, saves radiator necks. SnapOn SGA1712BR

[Stuart F.]

Re: Heater/Radiator Hose lubrication

Bill;

As for sealer, I probably just use what I have on hand and that is usually "Indian Head", I believe. Worked well the last time. No leaks.

Stu Fox