Lower Radiator Hose doesn't have a coil spring
 

Hey all -

What are you all doing for lower radiator hoses these days? I thought I'd replace the 49 year old hose (though still seems to be in tact) just in case, but I can't find one anywhere with the coil spring inside like the original I have. I've reading that the newer hoses are good enough now, to not soften with age, thus not requiring the spring, but I'm curious what you all are using.

I also thought about putting my spring into a new hose with the spring inside.

Thanks for any thoughts you have. :)

Re: Lower Radiator Hose doesn't have a coil spring
 

get a new hose ...

Uhhh...hmmm...
Yeah that's the plan, but what about the spring in the hose?
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Re: Lower Radiator Hose doesn't have a coil spring
 

You take the old spring out and put it in a new hose. That's the way it's always been.

Re: Lower Radiator Hose doesn't have a coil spring
 

My new hose had no spring. The old spring was rusted into oblivion, so I am going to run it without a spring.

Ok. Great! Thanks for the explanation!! I was hoping it might be that easy. ;)

Thanks again!!
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Re: Lower Radiator Hose doesn't have a coil spring
 

Why?

The spring servers a purpose, it stops outer air pressure from collapsing the lower hose when the pump is at high speed. GM wasn't giving parts away, if it wasn't needed, they didn't include it!

Re: Lower Radiator Hose doesn't have a coil spring
 

You might be able to find a similar length spring in a different hose that could be used in this application. I saw somebody doing this, but they had a small block chevy crate motor in their '71, so the part number wasn't a match for me.

Re: Lower Radiator Hose doesn't have a coil spring
 

Do you know if the GM part is still available for these trucks? I am not having a lot of luck finding a good source of OEM GM part numbers for vehicles this old.

Re: Lower Radiator Hose doesn't have a coil spring
 

Sounds logical, until you put a 15 PSI radiator cap on the system. You will NEVER collapse the bottom radiator hose with 15psi (or even 3 psi) in the cooling system.

Take the spring, throw it in the scrap, install the new hose, and be on your way.

Re: Lower Radiator Hose doesn't have a coil spring
 

Interseting...Ok, I'm just putting a new cap on today. It's the standard 13psi. Once I installed a new thermostat, I'm now building enough pressure to cause the cap to leak. :)

Thanks!!

Re: Lower Radiator Hose doesn't have a coil spring
 

The hose collapsing problem mostly occurs before the engine is up to temperature. The cooling system has no pressure when cold. Reving the engine when cold is when the hose will collapse.

Re: Lower Radiator Hose doesn't have a coil spring
 

Never had a problem with a lower hose with no spring in any of my rigs.

Gary

Re: Lower Radiator Hose doesn't have a coil spring
 

The following link has an interesting read. I can not vouch for its validity however...

http://www.martiauto.com/faqfocus.cfm?qid=20

Quoted below...

"I need a spring for my radiator hose. Where can I find one?

The thought that a spring is needed in a radiator hose is a common misconception, that springs (pun intended) from two events.

The first is that many (although not all) lower radiator hoses on the production assembly line had springs in them. The reason for this was the method by which the assembly lines filled the cooling systems. To save time, a special vacuum/fill fitting was placed over the radiator fill connection (the place where the radiator cap would eventually be placed. A vacuum machine was turned on to evacuate most of the air out of the cooling system. Once completed, the fill portion was turned on to introduce the coolant into the system. This process avoided entrained air preventing the system from being completed filled. The purpose of the hose spring was to prevent collapse during the vacuum portion of the fill cycle.

The second part of the story that has led to the "I need a spring" myth is that some people have observed their lower hose collapsing when they rev the engine. This is the result of a clogged radiator or a cooling system that has not been brought up to standard operating temperature. If an engine is revved up while still cool, there is only atmospheric pressure in the system. It is possible for the lower hose to collapse slightly due to the water pump drawing water out of the lower hose faster than the gravity-fed water from the radiator replaces it. Once the engine has been warmed up, the coolant system operates under pressure and this condition doesn't exist in a properly maintained cooling system. However, if the radiator tubes have restrictions, as the engine is revved, the water pump pulls coolant from the lower hose faster than water can trickle past the clogged tubes. This can result in a reduction in internal pressure that would cause the hose to collapse.

Note that the events that lead to the thought that "I need a spring" are based on either an insufficiently warmed up engine or a clogged radiator. The spring does not take care of these events. It merely masks a symptom. If, after your vehicle has reached normal operating temperature but you experience a collapsing hose, have your radiator tested.

As an additional thought, have you ever wondered where your original spring went? Did you ever find bits and pieces of it scattered throughout the cooling system? Being made of ordinary steel, they corrode with time, small pieces gradually breaking off and either scoring the water pump impeller, tearing the water pump seal, or clogging the radiator. They aren't necessary for the functioning of a properly maintained cooling system."

All that said and you can still buy them from places like Summit.

Re: Lower Radiator Hose doesn't have a coil spring
 

Good instructive reply. Thanks Sick472.

Re: Lower Radiator Hose doesn't have a coil spring
 

Agreed. I'm gonna try no spring. Worst case, I buy a spring lol

Re: Lower Radiator Hose doesn't have a coil spring
 

it is needed. It does stop the lower hose from collapsing. it used to be they came with the hose. No longer. But they are needed. more so if you have a hi volume water pump. the presumption that a clogged radiator can be cured by a spring in the hose? presumes that the radiator is clogged. but new vehicles comming off the assembly line dont usually have a clogged radiator. I think that guy on Marti got it wrong. It is needed. the vaccuum generated by the Pump should be suckin fluid. not collapsing a lower hose. Just because a system works under pressure of any amount does not preclude it from generating a vacuum. all there really has to be is a difference in pressure. after all a clogged system working under 15 psi will create a vacuum but a clean system working under the same pressure does not? new fiziks?

yes they rust too. funny that.... but one solution is to get some .041 stainless safety wire. about 12 feet of it and double it over and twist it good and tight like with safety wire pliers. your 12 foot single strand doubled over becomes a 6 foot strand. twist that with a set of pliers or safety wire pliers and it will reduce in length further. then wrap it around a piece of pipe or broom handle slide it inside that lower hose and release it and it will expand to fit tightly inside the hose. Its stainless so it wont rust away and disappear.

Re: Lower Radiator Hose doesn't have a coil spring
 

The concept of collapsing the hose when a clogged radiator is present merely means that the difference in pressure from before and after the pump is sufficient enough to suck the hose in because of a difference in pressure from before and after the cooling tubes of the radiator. These differences in pressure always exist, but are not always enough to collapse the lower hose. When the radiator gets gummed-up (or undersized) it will not allow the pump to draw as much coolant and the hose gives in.

A warmed up motor will add an over all pressure to the system which further decreases the magnitudes of the pressure differences. This will reduce the likelihood of collapsing a hose by giving the inlet side of the pump a bit more pressure to aid the flow of the coolant to the pump. This added pressure also helps to keep the hose expanded.

If your high volume water pump is collapsing your lower hose under warmed up conditions and a clean radiator, I would surmise that you could use a better flowing radiator to get everything you can out of the pump (or you don't need the high flow pump).

A spring will cure the symptom (collapsing hose), but does not cure the cause (high delta P's across the pump and radiator). The pump would still be starving to some extent just not sucking the hose in.

I am not really arguing for the idea of NOT putting the springs in, I think all my engines have them. They are a nice thing to have to avoid completely starving the pump (peace of mind) under the right/wrong conditions, but I would say that the are not necessary with a properly designed and maintained system.

Re: Lower Radiator Hose doesn't have a coil spring
 

Look on Ebay, someone has the spring available. I bought one for my lower rad hose.

Re: Lower Radiator Hose doesn't have a coil spring
 

So I'm old school. If it had a spring, it will continue to have a spring whether needed or not.

$8 on ebay. Makes me feel better.

Regards,
Randy

Re: Lower Radiator Hose doesn't have a coil spring
 

Lower radiator hose springs are available from ebay user pacecarjeff.
They are being sold for $7 free shipping. You can use any of the springs advertised for GM vehicles. I purchased one last year and installed it in my 72 Blazer.



Look at this on eBay
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F361923116019

Re: Lower Radiator Hose doesn't have a coil spring
 

Buy a Goodyear Hose. I do not know the correct part number, but they fit correctly with no kinks or any binding.

Ask me how I know.

Re: Lower Radiator Hose doesn't have a coil spring
 

x2

Re: Lower Radiator Hose doesn't have a coil spring
 

Where can you buy one? I looked for it unsuccessfully. :)