Silicone hoses -v- traditional hoses

[Doogie]

So, although I like to think of myself as a 'Shadetree mechanic', I've never quite grasped the silicone water hose thing. Not to say that I'm not for it, I don't understand the chemistry of it. To be fair, I don't understand the chemistry of good old fashioned rubber hoses either! :-)

So, my DMC-12 has the original factory hoses on it, and the original factory water pump. Upon "rejuvenation" a few years back at ken K's with Nick R's help, the car ran great after sitting for 25 years.

I got the car back to my house, and tinkered with it for a few months. During one of those months I noticed a slight water pump 'seepage', which went away after a few hours of running. OK, I thought, chalk it up to old water pump seals. The small leak eventually stopped.

I keep seeing talk of silicone hoses. I keep thinking that one day I'm gonna need to do the water pump and replace the 30 year old hoses. Then I think "Heck, I should get me them fancy silicon hoses!"

Should I?

I will spend the money, I look at this as a "Do it right the first time" type thing.

But I'm ignorant. I grew up in the '80's and worked at a 'SOHIO" gas station when I was a teenager. We turned brake rotors and drums, we didn't have no fancy "Ceramic" pads, or exotic "silicone" hoses. We used GATES brand hoses and they lasted, well, forever! Why do I need silicone?

Not trying to be callus, actually, wanting to learn about them. So, what gives about silicon hoses?

TIA,

Doogie

[DMC-81]

I have heard that the Silicone version lasts longer.

Personally, I went with new rubber hoses from DMC and the original Norma clamps for my coolant refresh. I used the proper clamp torque values and when testing it afterwards, my coolant system held 15 psi overnight without dropping a hair before I filled it with coolant. I haven't had any problems so far. Here's an example of the torque specs that I followed for my clamps.

http://normapacific.com/CA2579BB00130F02/All/902ad71ab99fe397ca257a93001ef681/$file/Norma_Wormdrive_HC_Torro.pdf

If you go with rubber, my advice would be to search for the specs for your clamps, and follow them.

[David T]

The main reason to use any silicone hoses is that once you tighten then with a hose clamp you will not have to retighten them again after they take a "set". Very useful in places like under the intake manifold where you can't get to the clamps easily. When people have trouble with silicone hoses it is usually because you should not use ordinary hose clamps on them. They do last longer but are much more expensive. Many do it for the look.

[Mattglas]

If you decide to get silicone hoses I wouldn't recommend getting them from specialtauto. They just send you normal hoses and claim that they're silicone.

[sdg3205]

If you decide to get silicone hoses I wouldn't recommend getting them from specialtauto. They just send you normal hoses and claim that they're silicone.

Lol. Oh John. The stories.

[BABIS]

If you decide to get silicone hoses I wouldn't recommend getting them from specialtauto. They just send you normal hoses and claim that they're silicone.

I bought one of his silicone hose kit (blue) about 5 years ago and it was actually silicone, maybe in the meantime he changed policy!

[Ryan King]

If you decide to get silicone hoses I wouldn't recommend getting them from specialtauto. They just send you normal hoses and claim that they're silicone.

Sounds like you got...hosed.
46094