Using fuel hose for the cooling system

[Rhylsailer99]

Whilst I'm updating my water filter on my bukh engine, I've noticed my coolant hoses are marine grade A1 fuel hose.
Is this ok? or should I replace with coolant hose.

 

[thinwater]

Following.

I recall a large transit bus recall caused by dipstick oil dripped on non-oil resistant EPDM hoses, resulting in many catastrophic failures. While the coolant should not contain oil or fuel, it can certainly be exposed. Just a few drips of oil can ruin some hose materials. So while coolant hose should NEVER be used for fuel, fuel hose should be a superior hose in this application. While technically, other materials could be better for pure coolant, with the risk of oild and fuel exposure in the bilge, this is a safe choice.

 

[happyville]

Hi I would strongly adivise not to use fuel hose for the coolant system.

The reason being over the course of time the heat will make the fuel hose brittle to the point of failure.

I had a incident last year with a wheel house heater running off the engine via a heat exchanger connected using 'Nautilus' fuel hose. The hose completely failed and split wide open dropping all the coolant in the circuit after replacing the hose i was able snap the old one with my hands!

For peace of mind i would just get the proper radiator hose.

Hope this helps

Cheers

 

[Tranona]

Don't think there is much chance of that happening here as the hose is for cold seawater to the engine. It is a seawater cooled engine so no pressurised high temperature coolant.

 

[thinwater]

Hi I would strongly adivise not to use fuel hose for the coolant system.

The reason being over the course of time the heat will make the fuel hose brittle to the point of failure.

I had a incident last year with a wheel house heater running off the engine via a heat exchanger connected using 'Nautilus' fuel hose. The hose completely failed and split wide open dropping all the coolant in the circuit after replacing the hose i was able snap the old one with my hands!

For peace of mind i would just get the proper radiator hose.

Hope this helps

Cheers

What specific material do you feel is appropriate?

Fuel hose is almost certainly nitrile and is typically rated for hot coolant. Silicone would be an option, but they tend to be leak-prone (hard to fit properly on barbs). HPDM will last longer if there is NO chance of oil contact, but it is a risk IMO, based on practical experience. NBR (nitrile) will get brittle, but it takes many years, and it is the most common material for coolant and wet exhaust hose because of its wide range of resistance.

I'm waiting to hear from a marine engine specialist.

Gates coolant hose nitrile

 

[Daverw]

We use at work a lot of ptfe lined hoses for various oils and chemicals / gases, seem to last for a long time

 

[vyv_cox]

What specific material do you feel is appropriate?

Fuel hose is almost certainly nitrile and is typically rated for hot coolant. Silicone would be an option, but they tend to be leak-prone (hard to fit properly on barbs). HPDM will last longer if there is NO chance of oil contact, but it is a risk IMO, based on practical experience. NBR (nitrile) will get brittle, but it takes many years, and it is the most common material for coolant and wet exhaust hose because of its wide range of resistance.

I'm waiting to hear from a marine engine specialist.

Gates coolant hose nitrile

Years ago, within my motoring lifetime, we only had nitrile hoses. EPDM is a relatively recent innovation.