Engine cooling hoses
 

Gentlemen (and ladies if you have any comments):

Does anyone know of any "real world" reasons why automotive-type,
corrugated flexible hoses should not be used to replace unavailable or
ridiculously expensive OEM molded hoses in marine engine cooling
applications, i.e.:

A. On the fresh water (antifreeze) side of a heat exchanger cooled engine?
B. On the sea water (salt water) side of the same cooling system?

Please, folks, I'm asking for VALID reasons why the automotive hoses
should NOT be used, not non-specific comments like: "Well, the XYZ
company must have had SOME reason for not using those hoses."

Your comments, advice, or experience with this will be appreciated!

Thank you,
Ed Greeley

I'll bite ... my mercruiser thermostat is 140 F ... lower than an automotive
thermostat ... the manifolds/risers/exhaust are water cooled ... much cooler
than an auto exhaust ... water pressures are no greater than in an auto
engine ... I would use automotive cooling lines on the fresh water side.
Salt water side ... no comment.

"Edward Greeley" wrote in message
...
Gentlemen (and ladies if you have any comments):

Does anyone know of any "real world" reasons why automotive-type,
corrugated flexible hoses should not be used to replace unavailable or
ridiculously expensive OEM molded hoses in marine engine cooling
applications, i.e.:

A. On the fresh water (antifreeze) side of a heat exchanger cooled engine?
B. On the sea water (salt water) side of the same cooling system?

Please, folks, I'm asking for VALID reasons why the automotive hoses
should NOT be used, not non-specific comments like: "Well, the XYZ
company must have had SOME reason for not using those hoses."

Your comments, advice, or experience with this will be appreciated!

Thank you,
Ed Greeley

On Mon, 25 Oct 2004 04:46:47 +0000, Edward Greeley wrote:

Gentlemen (and ladies if you have any comments):

Does anyone know of any "real world" reasons why automotive-type,
corrugated flexible hoses should not be used to replace unavailable or
ridiculously expensive OEM molded hoses in marine engine cooling
applications, i.e.:

A. On the fresh water (antifreeze) side of a heat exchanger cooled engine?
B. On the sea water (salt water) side of the same cooling system?

Please, folks, I'm asking for VALID reasons why the automotive hoses
should NOT be used, not non-specific comments like: "Well, the XYZ
company must have had SOME reason for not using those hoses."

Your comments, advice, or experience with this will be appreciated!

Thank you,
Ed Greeley

I have no experience with this.

But one thing to think about is insurance. If you are going to get the
boat surveyed pursuant to getting insurance, it would be unfortunate if
the surveyor told you to replace the automotive type hose with a marine
rated one!

If you are not planning on getting insurance, or if you already have it,
it probably doesn't matter.

--Mac

The fresh water side probably doesn't make much difference other than the
reduced flow from the corrigations. On the raw water side it makes a lot of
difference because automobiles don't normaly sink when a rotten hose breaks.
There is a big difference between series 250 water hose and regular
automotive hose. Like almost twice the wall thickness and much more
reinforcing.


"Edward Greeley" wrote in message
...
Gentlemen (and ladies if you have any comments):

Does anyone know of any "real world" reasons why automotive-type,
corrugated flexible hoses should not be used to replace unavailable or
ridiculously expensive OEM molded hoses in marine engine cooling
applications, i.e.:

A. On the fresh water (antifreeze) side of a heat exchanger cooled engine?
B. On the sea water (salt water) side of the same cooling system?

Please, folks, I'm asking for VALID reasons why the automotive hoses
should NOT be used, not non-specific comments like: "Well, the XYZ
company must have had SOME reason for not using those hoses."

Your comments, advice, or experience with this will be appreciated!

Thank you,
Ed Greeley

A common solution in a marine environment is to manufacture a metal tube
bent to right shape coupled at both ends with a short length of certified
straight hose using 2 hose clamps on both sides of the coupling hose for
security. That means 8 hose clamps per run. This is the method used on
commercial vessels.
Steve

"Edward Greeley" wrote in message
...
Gentlemen (and ladies if you have any comments):

Does anyone know of any "real world" reasons why automotive-type,
corrugated flexible hoses should not be used to replace unavailable or
ridiculously expensive OEM molded hoses in marine engine cooling
applications, i.e.:

A. On the fresh water (antifreeze) side of a heat exchanger cooled engine?
B. On the sea water (salt water) side of the same cooling system?

Please, folks, I'm asking for VALID reasons why the automotive hoses
should NOT be used, not non-specific comments like: "Well, the XYZ company
must have had SOME reason for not using those hoses."

Your comments, advice, or experience with this will be appreciated!

Thank you,
Ed Greeley

I'd agree on the FW side. On the salt water side, if the hose is automotive
and has a metal coil inside, I'd bet it would rust away in weeks, because it
was designed to be run with fresh water and antifreeze with corrosion
inhibitors.

--


Keith
__
Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you
nothing. It was here first. -Mark Twain
"Bowgus" wrote in message
...
I'll bite ... my mercruiser thermostat is 140 F ... lower than an
automotive
thermostat ... the manifolds/risers/exhaust are water cooled ... much
cooler
than an auto exhaust ... water pressures are no greater than in an auto
engine ... I would use automotive cooling lines on the fresh water side.
Salt water side ... no comment.

"Edward Greeley" wrote in message
...
Gentlemen (and ladies if you have any comments):

Does anyone know of any "real world" reasons why automotive-type,
corrugated flexible hoses should not be used to replace unavailable or
ridiculously expensive OEM molded hoses in marine engine cooling
applications, i.e.:

A. On the fresh water (antifreeze) side of a heat exchanger cooled
engine?
B. On the sea water (salt water) side of the same cooling system?

Please, folks, I'm asking for VALID reasons why the automotive hoses
should NOT be used, not non-specific comments like: "Well, the XYZ
company must have had SOME reason for not using those hoses."

Your comments, advice, or experience with this will be appreciated!

Thank you,
Ed Greeley

"Edward Greeley" wrote..
Does anyone know of any "real world" reasons why automotive-type,
corrugated flexible hoses should not be used to replace unavailable or
ridiculously expensive OEM molded hoses in marine engine cooling
applications

Nope. None at all... well maybe a small one.


Glenn Ashmore wrote:
The fresh water side probably doesn't make much difference other than the
reduced flow from the corrigations. On the raw water side it makes a lot of
difference because automobiles don't normaly sink when a rotten hose breaks.

Trivial detail!

There is a big difference between series 250 water hose and regular
automotive hose. Like almost twice the wall thickness and much more
reinforcing.

I bet boat hoses see a wider variation in temps & pressures, too. It's
quite possible to pay high prices for fancy labelled "marine" equipment
that's really not much better than K-mart brands, but OTOH if you learn
a little bit about what the specs mean, and various service ratings, you
can shop for industrial parts with the highest rating and still save a
little money. IMHO you're also better off, but then I believe that
knowledge is a good thing for it's own sake ;)

Regards
Doug King

To all who offered your comments: Thank you! The concensus was pretty
much what I had concluded.

Ed Greeley

Edward Greeley wrote in message ...
To all who offered your comments: Thank you! The concensus was pretty
much what I had concluded.

Ed Greeley

Ed, on the fresh water side, high quality automotive hoses are just
fine. But remember, they don't last forever, replace them every few
years and you'll never have a problem. On the raw water side, go with
the marine hose with the wire. The wire keeps the hose from colapsing
(not sure if I spelled that right, but you get the message) and the
heavy construction will help prevent the hose from failing, possibly
sinking your boat. And, like the fresh water side, these hoses don't
last forever, replace them about half as often as the fresh water
hoses (they do last longer).

John