lower radiator hose spring???

[wantan87]

My lower radiator hose started having a big bulge in it when the coolant got up to running temp up by the thermostat. So it finally busted open right when I got home from driving it for 20min. My question is this why is their a spring inside of the whole length of the coolant hose? Also their was about a 4" piece that broke off inside their that was wrapped around the rest of the spring. So I went to napa and bought a new hose and with some cutting on it it fit.

 

[83ttypecooled]

Lower hose

Hi,
Generally, lower hoses have, or had ,a spring to support the hose from potential collapse, due to waterpump cavitation. You don't see that much anymore. I think it's not needed much these days. Those tremendous volumes of coolant were pretty remarkable.Occasionally, I still see a collapsed hose while working on a car, but not too frequently.

 

[tom h]

I once bought an OEM lower hose from GM, and they had forgotten tp put the spring inside! Returned it, and the replacement had the correct spring inside. As noted, the spring prevents hose collapse under suction. I would make sure to use only a hose with the spring.

 

[turbofish38]

The replacement hose from GM still come with a spring. Only used on the lower hose.

 

[VadersV6]

I pulled mine out over a year ago. 30,000 miles and no collapsed hose. It has a tendency to collect rust and other crap. i just didnt like the way itlooked so I pulled it out.

 

[Ormand]

When the engine is cold, before the coolant pressure builds up, that hose would be seeing pressure less the air pressure outside out. Hard to imagine that it could still be under any vacuum after the engine warms up, though. I guess it could, if the radiator and the thermostat were both restrictive. As far as I know, my car still has the OEM lower hose. But I've got a new one in the carport, somewhere. Maybe the spring is a "leftover", something that was really needed way back when the radiators ran at lower pressures?

 

[aminga]

Many years ago when I went for a new hose at a name brand parts store They told me the only purpose of the spring was to aid in automated filling on the assembly line. I kind of dismissed it as BS but it doesn't appear the spring is really necessary

 

[VadersV6]

Many years ago when I went for a new hose at a name brand parts store They told me the only purpose of the spring was to aid in automated filling on the assembly line. I kind of dismissed it as BS but it doesn't appear the spring is really necessary

What is a thermostat? Its basically a spring. The spring will uncoil and try to increase its diameter when it gets hot and in turn puts pressure against the inner wall of the hose. Its just there to prevent collapsing. But I havent had any issues without it.

 

[tom h]

What is a thermostat? Its basically a spring. ...

Actually, most auto thermostats are "wax pellet" type. The spring is there to keep the valve shut. The expanding "pellet" overcomes the force of the spring, and the water is allowed to flow through. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermostat#Wax_pellet