Lower radiator hose collapsing
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Heel & Toe
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Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
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From: Orange Park Florida
Hoses with springs in them are green grass common at any parts house, take the old one with you to match it up with one that will work, my car has two spliced rad hoses, one from stat to rad, other from rad to pump, the hose gets warm and is under great suction from the pump, enough to collapse it with no spring inside....
Le Mans Master
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Team Owner
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From: Crossville TN
The answer to your question is that the lower radiator hose is the suction line for water going to the water pump. If you are at highway speeds, you have a water pump turning at about 2500 rpm and it is attempting to SUCK that much water into it. That creates negative pressure which will collapse a non-rigid hose. So, you put a anti-collapse spring inside the hose; or you buy a hose with corrugations that will not allow it to collapse.
OK?
OK?
Race Director
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you can find springs here, just measure what size you need
https://www.summitracing.com/search/...ibanner=SREPD4
https://www.summitracing.com/search/...ibanner=SREPD4
Le Mans Master
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2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
I appreciate the answers. I have also read threads about this subject, and if my memory is correct, some new hoses are built not to need a spring, and will not collapse. I guess the big question is if this is true, or just marketing. IN any case, I will be keeping an eye out for this.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Crossville TN
Oddly, many Corvette aftermarket vendors sell the hose without the spring. They also sell the spring, but make no mention of it being needed in the ad for the hose. Totally nuts!!! If the spring is in good shape (many rust away after years of service), the owner need only to buy the hose; but the ads for both the hose and spring should be together and there should be a *note: that a spring is required when that hose is installed.
Last edited by 7T1vette; Jul 6, 2017 at 12:47 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,532
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From: Dallas-Fort Worth TX
The answer to your question is that the lower radiator hose is the suction line for water going to the water pump. If you are at highway speeds, you have a water pump turning at about 2500 rpm and it is attempting to SUCK that much water into it. That creates negative pressure which will collapse a non-rigid hose. So, you put a anti-collapse spring inside the hose; or you buy a hose with corrugations that will not allow it to collapse.
OK?
OK?
What is considered old? Mileage or years. I got about 3000 miles on mine, but the hose is probably 7 years old.
I do not think my hose has a spring inside.
Can you visually see if the hose is collapsing at idle once its up to operating temp, or does this happen at higher rpm's under load?