[E-Type] Reinforced Radiator Hoses

E-Type
1

The discussion on radiator hose quality reminded me of something I saw on tv.
It was said that the lower radiator hoses should be internally reinforced by
a heavy metal spring. This is supposed to prevent the hose collapsing on
speed due to suction from the water pump. My '69 ots has a 2-piece lower
hose with a pipe between them. Should there be some internal reinforcement?
Has anyone experienced a collapsing hose tha contributes to overheating?

thanks, Ron

2

Ron,

Actually as far as I know, the primary reason for the reinforced hoses is
not to prevent collapse due to the power of the water pump (boy, I’d love
to have a pump that good!) but to prevent collapse after you turn the car
off (?)

The modern coolant recovery system depends on the suction (reduction in
pressure, same thing) created by the contraction of the coolant to ‘suck’
coolant back into the radiator from the overflow tank.

If the hose collapses then coolant is not pulled back into the radiator and
the next time the car gets up to running temperature there is not enough
coolant in the circulating system. Am I making sense here?

Anyway, that’s how I understand it to work.

Dick

3

Actually, the spring in the hose predates recovery tanks by a good many
years (decades?.)

The relatively long, large diameter, radiator hoses on big American V-8s
were very soft, especially when hot. The water pump could and would
collapse the suction hose. Hence it was common practice to reinforce the
hose with a spring. (If isn’t really a spring, just a coil of stiff wire,
but it looks like one.)

If your theory was correct, both the upper and lower hoses would need
reinforcement and have springs.

Mike C.
'74 OTS----- Original Message -----
From: Dick Dell rddell@mindspring.com
To: e-type@jag-lovers.org
Sent: Monday, 28 August, 2000 1:40 PM
Subject: [E-Type] Reinforced Radiator Hoses

Ron,

Actually as far as I know, the primary reason for the reinforced hoses is
not to prevent collapse due to the power of the water pump (boy, I’d love
to have a pump that good!) but to prevent collapse after you turn the car
off (?)

The modern coolant recovery system depends on the suction (reduction in
pressure, same thing) created by the contraction of the coolant to ‘suck’
coolant back into the radiator from the overflow tank.

If the hose collapses then coolant is not pulled back into the radiator
and
the next time the car gets up to running temperature there is not enough
coolant in the circulating system. Am I making sense here?

Anyway, that’s how I understand it to work.

Dick

4

Actually, the spring in the hose predates recovery tanks by a good many
years (decades?.)

The relatively long, large diameter, radiator hoses on big American V-8s
were very soft, especially when hot. The water pump could and would
collapse the suction hose. Hence it was common practice to reinforce the
hose with a spring. (If isn’t really a spring, just a coil of stiff wire,
but it looks like one.)

If your theory was correct, both the upper and lower hoses would need
reinforcement and have springs.

Mike C.
'74 OTS

----- Original Message -----
From: Dick Dell rddell@mindspring.com
To: e-type@jag-lovers.org
Sent: Monday, 28 August, 2000 1:40 PM
Subject: [E-Type] Reinforced Radiator Hoses

Ron,

Actually as far as I know, the primary reason for the reinforced hoses
is

not to prevent collapse due to the power of the water pump (boy, I’d
love

to have a pump that good!) but to prevent collapse after you turn the
car

off (?)

The modern coolant recovery system depends on the suction (reduction in
pressure, same thing) created by the contraction of the coolant to
‘suck’> > coolant back into the radiator from the overflow tank.

If the hose collapses then coolant is not pulled back into the radiator
and
the next time the car gets up to running temperature there is not enough
coolant in the circulating system. Am I making sense here?

Anyway, that’s how I understand it to work.

Dick

5

I think the reason they don’t ahve springs is because they are so
short. I wondered about that when I had mine apart.
LLoyd

Mike Cogswell wrote:>

Actually, the spring in the hose predates recovery tanks by a good many
years (decades?.)

The relatively long, large diameter, radiator hoses on big American V-8s
were very soft, especially when hot. The water pump could and would
collapse the suction hose. Hence it was common practice to reinforce the
hose with a spring. (If isn’t really a spring, just a coil of stiff wire,
but it looks like one.)

If your theory was correct, both the upper and lower hoses would need
reinforcement and have springs.

Mike C.