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[PIC] Upper radiator hose collapsing???

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Old Sep 22, 2007 | 04:58 PM
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From: The artist formally known as NONO5.0 Mobile, Al
Default [PIC] Upper radiator hose collapsing???

Well, this is a new one. I haven't seen this before. When the car is cool, the upper radiator hose is collapsed like in the pic below



At first, I thought it was a bad hose, but by the feel of it, it seems like the hose is ok. Naturally when the car is running, the hose is fine and like I said, feels ok. I'm going to replace it anyway, but is there something that could cause this to happen like some other problem other than a bad hose?

Thanks for any thoughts
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Old Sep 22, 2007 | 05:13 PM
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Couple of things come to mind. If the coolant cap is removed when the coolant is hot, losing a tiny amount of coolant is normal since the system is under pressure of 15 psi or so. When the cap is replaced and the engine cools, the system experiences a vacuum causing the hose collapse you see. A lot of hose makers put a coil spring inside the hose to support the hose and generic (not molded to contour) hoses often have a molded spring molded within them.

Remove the cap when the coolant system is cold and replace it. The problem should go away.

Charlie
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Old Sep 22, 2007 | 05:30 PM
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From: The artist formally known as NONO5.0 Mobile, Al
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Originally Posted by cruisemon
Remove the cap when the coolant system is cold and replace it. The problem should go away.

Charlie
I'll give it a try. Thanks!
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Old Sep 22, 2007 | 05:51 PM
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Make sure your system is full too. Don't just go by the "FULL" mark on the tank. I have kept mine full up just below the "grid" you see when the cap is removed, for years. Works well, with no "burping" of coolant either. The upper hose can't collapse after cool-down if there's no air in it.
BTW, springs are used on pre-molded hoses on the suction side of the pump, i e lower hose. The upper hose is on the discharge or pressure side of the pump and does not need one.

HTH
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Old Sep 22, 2007 | 06:09 PM
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You have a BAD CAP!! The cap should allow vacuum to pull through but NOT allow pressure out. Try a new cap. You can try to soak it in hot water/ detergent but to insure you solve the issue, a new cap is inexpensive.


BC
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Old Sep 22, 2007 | 08:15 PM
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Originally Posted by Bill Curlee
You have a BAD CAP!! The cap should allow vacuum to pull through but NOT allow pressure out. Try a new cap. You can try to soak it in hot water/ detergent but to insure you solve the issue, a new cap is inexpensive.


BC
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Old Sep 22, 2007 | 10:12 PM
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Originally Posted by CTSV OWNER
AS WELL!! Replace the cap, it's an inexpensive fix and one less thing to worry about
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Old Sep 23, 2007 | 12:04 AM
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Originally Posted by Bill Curlee
You have a BAD CAP!! The cap should allow vacuum to pull through but NOT allow pressure out. Try a new cap. You can try to soak it in hot water/ detergent but to insure you solve the issue, a new cap is inexpensive.


BC
I experienced the partial collapsing upper hose too a couple years back. It was right after I had changed all hoses and flushed the cooling system, etc. I thought bad cap too. Changed it and the upper hose still was partially collapsing after cool-down though maybe not as much. Suspecting excess air in system, I began to fill the system with coolant to a higher level and over a period of a couple days the problem ceased.
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Old Sep 23, 2007 | 07:58 AM
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Most definitely 100% a bad radiator cap!
Geez, I think I had that one back in 2001..!
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Old Sep 23, 2007 | 09:14 AM
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I have seen that on mine , even when the car was brand new.
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Old Sep 23, 2007 | 10:55 AM
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Originally Posted by Bill Curlee
You have a BAD CAP!! The cap should allow vacuum to pull through but NOT allow pressure out. Try a new cap. You can try to soak it in hot water/ detergent but to insure you solve the issue, a new cap is inexpensive.


BC
we have a winner
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Old Sep 23, 2007 | 01:23 PM
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Originally Posted by 99 vett babycar
we have a winner
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Old Sep 23, 2007 | 01:29 PM
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From: The artist formally known as NONO5.0 Mobile, Al
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Thanks alot for the info everyone!!! I took the cap off and heard a good bit of air released and naturally, the hose went back to normal. I'll also look for a new cap monday!
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Old Sep 23, 2007 | 04:20 PM
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Originally Posted by NONO5.0
Thanks alot for the info everyone!!! I took the cap off and heard a good bit of air released and naturally, the hose went back to normal. I'll also look for a new cap monday!
BTW, don't be surprised if the replacement cap (GM) is an 18lb. As far as I can tell that is now the standard pressure rating.
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Old Sep 24, 2007 | 02:41 AM
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I had the exact same thing happen to me recently after changing a thermostat. Just do the procedure for bleeding air from the system and refill and you should fine. I didn't need a cap and you probably don't either, unless you can determine that you lost coolant and hadn't been opening the system previously.
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Old Sep 24, 2007 | 02:48 AM
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Originally Posted by striper
I had the exact same thing happen to me recently after changing a thermostat. Just do the procedure for bleeding air from the system and refill and you should fine. I didn't need a cap and you probably don't either, unless you can determine that you lost coolant and hadn't been opening the system previously.
Gee striper ... do you not read a thread before posting to it ???? The OP has already posted that when he removed his "bad" cap the problem was IMMEDIATELY resolved ??? He needs a new cap. Already fixed.
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