Silicone or Rubber?

[bongobong]

Given that my Bongo is now ten years old, with no service history, I wonder about how long it will be before I start getting hose deterioration . In addition to this, the coolant should also be changed every few years anyway. With this in mind, and not wanting to live under the cosh, I’ve thought on the lines of changing them all. My first thought is rubber versus the silicone. Are the silicone hoses so much better so as to warrant the extra cost, or are they an overkill. I would be interested in your opinions on this and the best course of action to take.

[francophile1947]

I'm in the same position and was thinking of silicone - I didn't think there was much price difference, but I might well be wrong

[stilldesperate]

I'm in the same position and was thinking of silicone

He he he, John .... I was looking at your avatar an thinking of silicone

SD

[francophile1947]

I'm in the same position and was thinking of silicone -quote]

He he he, John .... I was looking at your avatar an thinking of silicone

SD

Silicon - fried eggs wrapped in PVC

[stilldesperate]

Silicon - fried eggs wrapped in PVC

Aw, now you've gone an put me off me dinner!

[francophile1947]

Silicon - fried eggs wrapped in PVC

Aw, now you've gone an put me off me dinner!

That'll teach you to keep your mind on the right kind of nibble

[mikeonb4c]

Given that my Bongo is now ten years old, with no service history, I wonder about how long it will be before I start getting hose deterioration . In addition to this, the coolant should also be changed every few years anyway. With this in mind, and not wanting to live under the cosh, I’ve thought on the lines of changing them all. My first thought is rubber versus the silicone. Are the silicone hoses so much better so as to warrant the extra cost, or are they an overkill. I would be interested in your opinions on this and the best course of action to take.

This one gets dicussed a lot. Personally I fitted a low coolant alarm and inspected the hoses. 2yrs later and they still look fine. I ought to buy some repair tape to keep in the car and maybe buy a spare for one or two of the ones known to generally go first, but I've not got a Round Tuit. It's costly doing the lot and you still need to check that all the clips are tight and sealed as you can get leakage (which a coolant alarm ensures against consequences of - which brings us back to START!)

[scanner]

So far as I could see Flippa's silicone hoses were no dearer than rubber ones from other sources like Bongobits - so I bought a set of them instead.

[Ron Miel]

Given that my Bongo is now ten years old, with no service history, I wonder about how long it will be before I start getting hose deterioration . In addition to this, the coolant should also be changed every few years anyway. With this in mind, and not wanting to live under the cosh, I’ve thought on the lines of changing them all. My first thought is rubber versus the silicone. Are the silicone hoses so much better so as to warrant the extra cost, or are they an overkill. I would be interested in your opinions on this and the best course of action to take.

This one gets dicussed a lot. Personally I fitted a low coolant alarm and inspected the hoses. 2yrs later and they still look fine. I ought to buy some repair tape to keep in the car and maybe buy a spare for one or two of the ones known to generally go first, but I've not got a Round Tuit. It's costly doing the lot and you still need to check that all the clips are tight and sealed as you can get leakage (which a coolant alarm ensures against consequences of - which brings us back to START!)

Mike senior, at Wheelquick advised me, whatever the age of your hoses, if it aint broke don't fix it - for the reasons mikeonb4c gives here (and borne out by my own experience after good hoses were removed/re-fitted for a cambelt change).

Advice was very few actually fail but if they do, it can of course be dramatic and hence all the discussion about it. Just make sure you've got a low coolant alarm fitted, and can catch any failure before it does become dramatic - as I had/did!! Also, check hoses by hand every few months - if they're soft when cold, or swell under presuure, then change them.

[missfixit70]

I replaced the main 6 hoses with silicon when Flippa first got them, I've now got the rest waiting to go on, couple of big trips planned - don't want to be stuck on the continent with a dead bongo if I can help it.
I don't think there's much of a price difference between the silicon & rubber hoses.
I did fit a low coolant alarm & Mason as soon as was feasible, along with a digital temp display, now added to with high coolant, overflow prototype & another temp alarm being tested for Haydn

[bigdaddycain]

Horses for courses, i had wheelquick fit the original 9 hose set, as i could afford to at that time... I have the second lot awaiting fitment during the summer,as it's easier to get the bongo up to running temp then for bleeding purposes.

[bongobong]

Horses for courses, i had wheelquick fit the original 9 hose set, as i could afford to at that time... I have the second lot awaiting fitment during the summer,as it's easier to get the bongo up to running temp then for bleeding purposes.

Hi
Did Mike provide the hoses?

[motorwizard]

I bought a set of silicone hoses last year and didnt fit them I carried them all the way to Poland and back. I decided I couldnt take the chance of another year so bought a radiator and changed the hoses and the radiator. The hoses I took off were in good condition considering 13 years old. I also fitted new drive belts and whilst doing so found the water pump bearings gone I had not previously lost any significant coolant so was surprised. I think the water pump would have gone this year if not changed. There is a company selling 10mm silicone hose on e bay that will do for the engine bleed. There are losts of hoses on the van and I have not changed all but except for the one behind the alternator are reasonably easy to get to.

[bongobong]

There is a company selling 10mm silicone hose on e bay that will do for the engine bleed. There are losts of hoses on the van and I have not changed all but except for the one behind the alternator are reasonably easy to get to.

Did you find the bleeding process a problem? I’m apprehensive about the refilling and bleeding procedure, mainly because it would be my first attempt. I have read some say its quite straight forward.