Intercooler hose swap out/conversions

T.Farm.Brumby · Post by **T.Farm.Brumby** » Sat Mar 23, 2013 7:34 pm

Hey peeps and peepettes.

Just wondering if anyone had any idea of what fluids intercooler hose will handle? Can't find anything specific on this on the interwebz or on here really so I figured I'd start a thread.

I'm looking to convert most of my hoses and lines in the engine bay to blue intercooler hose. This is mostly for aesthetics but I figure it's better insulated than standard hosing so it will probably give me slightly better performance as well.

My main concern is whether or not radiator coolant or fuel or power steering fluid or any other fluid for that matter would deteriorate or perish intercooler hoses.

Cheers,
Tom.

Silverbullet · Post by **Silverbullet** » Sat Mar 23, 2013 8:08 pm

Aren't they silicone? I would have thought silicone hoses are pretty non-reactive. Better to be sure though

T.Farm.Brumby · Post by **T.Farm.Brumby** » Sat Mar 23, 2013 8:18 pm

Yeah most of the ones I've found are silicone, but I didn't want to just throw them all in, look at it happily then 2 weeks later get stuck somewhere with half a dozen rooted lines

Cheers for that bullet

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Sat Mar 23, 2013 8:48 pm

The silicone hoses are pretty much resistant to most things like petrol, oil, coolant and acids but tap water will eat right through them. Filtered water is even worse, it practically vaporizes silicone hose within seconds

T.Farm.Brumby · Post by **T.Farm.Brumby** » Sat Mar 23, 2013 8:53 pm

Gannon wrote:The silicone hoses are pretty much resistant to most things like petrol, oil, coolant and acids but tap water will eat right through them. Filtered water is even worse, it practically vaporizes silicone hose within seconds

Seriously? So I'm limited to filling my radiator with coolant and antifreeze/water-wetter?

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Sat Mar 23, 2013 9:35 pm

Bit worried what's in Gannons water up there

I run a bloody expensive per meter but cheaper than factory hose on the turbo for coolant etc - no problems. Most hoses have a rating to use as your guide, but silicone is sort of heat proof- think I was the industry pioneer for silicone as exhaust gasket sealer (coz it was there and paid for) Would not use it for power steering high pressure side though until confirmed it is within spec. Lucky you if you can get radiator hoses to fit to silicone.They almost always seem to be in imperial quarter inch increments, then Mr Hose of the UK has pipe by the mm ID from memory

T.Farm.Brumby · Post by **T.Farm.Brumby** » Sat Mar 23, 2013 9:41 pm

steptoe wrote:Bit worried what's in Gannons water up there

Thought that was a bit suss hahaha

steptoe wrote: I run a bloody expensive per meter but cheaper than factory hose on the turbo for coolant etc - no problems. Most hoses have a rating to use as your guide, but silicone is sort of heat proof- think I was the industry pioneer for silicone as exhaust gasket sealer (coz it was there and paid for) Would not use it for power steering high pressure side though until confirmed it is within spec. Lucky you if you can get radiator hoses to fit to silicone.They almost always seem to be in imperial quarter inch increments, then Mr Hose of the UK has pipe by the mm ID from memory

Well I'll look into it a bit further, I've found a couple things online where they do it in 8th and 16th increments but I don't know how expensive/available that would be

Will keep you posted

littlewhiteute · Post by **littlewhiteute** » Sun Mar 24, 2013 5:02 am

Gannon wrote:The silicone hoses are pretty much resistant to most things like petrol, oil, coolant and acids but tap water will eat right through them. Filtered water is even worse, it practically vaporizes silicone hose within seconds

I find that very hard to believe.

You're saying a cooling system hose set I have for my WRX can handle any fluid EXCEPT water?

Most premixed coolant is water based.

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Sun Mar 24, 2013 6:22 am

littlewhiteute wrote: You're saying a cooling system hose set I have for my WRX can handle any fluid EXCEPT water?

T.Farm.Brumby · Post by **T.Farm.Brumby** » Sun Mar 24, 2013 7:50 am

gannon wrote:

+100000 :d

RSR 555 · Post by **RSR 555** » Sun Mar 24, 2013 12:50 pm

Gannon wrote:Filtered water is even worse, it practically vaporizes silicone hose within seconds

LOL.. pretty nasty stuff that water

Tom, silicone is the way to go

60766244 · Post by **60766244** » Sun Mar 24, 2013 2:50 pm

Aahaha, this thread.

Silicon hoses get used a lot up north for the real nasty large machines up there.

Not sure what they use for hydraulics though, most of it is a rubber external compound with different colours (presumably types) of rubber layered in with steel mesh.

Let us know how much it all cost, and of course, pictures.

T.Farm.Brumby · Post by **T.Farm.Brumby** » Sun Mar 24, 2013 10:44 pm

60766244 wrote:Aahaha, this thread.

Silicon hoses get used a lot up north for the real nasty large machines up there.

Not sure what they use for hydraulics though, most of it is a rubber external compound with different colours (presumably types) of rubber layered in with steel mesh.

Let us know how much it all cost, and of course, pictures.

Wilco.

I'll be trying to do it on the cheap as usual.
If it's not worth it, I'll just get the stock stuff for the harder to find bits