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Old 03-13-2018, 12:32 PM   #1
spddm0n
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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.
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Old 03-13-2018, 12:56 PM   #2
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Re: Lower Radiator Hose doesn't have a coil spring

get a new hose ...
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Old 03-13-2018, 01:44 PM   #3
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get a new hose ...
Uhhh...hmmm...
Yeah that's the plan, but what about the spring in the hose?
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Old 03-13-2018, 01:50 PM   #4
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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.
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Old 03-13-2018, 01:59 PM   #5
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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.
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Old 03-13-2018, 02:28 PM   #6
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Re: Lower Radiator Hose doesn't have a coil spring

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Originally Posted by superhondaz50 View Post
My new hose had no spring. The old spring was rusted into oblivion, so I am going to run it without a 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!
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Old 03-13-2018, 02:48 PM   #7
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Re: Lower Radiator Hose doesn't have a coil spring

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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!
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.
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Old 03-13-2018, 02:58 PM   #8
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Re: Lower Radiator Hose doesn't have a coil spring

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Originally Posted by davepl View Post
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!
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.
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Old 03-13-2018, 03:34 PM   #9
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Re: Lower Radiator Hose doesn't have a coil spring

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Originally Posted by 1972RedNeck View Post
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.
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!!
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Old 03-13-2018, 03:36 PM   #10
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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.
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Old 03-15-2018, 12:49 PM   #11
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Re: Lower Radiator Hose doesn't have a coil spring

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Originally Posted by 1972redneck View Post
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.

x2
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Old 03-21-2018, 07:25 PM   #12
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Re: Lower Radiator Hose doesn't have a coil spring

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Originally Posted by 1972RedNeck View Post
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.
Wanta bet?

The upper hose on my 468 BBC will suck the upper radiator completely flat at high RPM. How do I know? When test driving the 468 right after the install I left my hood off. The hose would collapse flat as a pancake.

My fix (don't know if it's correct) was to replace the hose with a flexible stainless steel hose. No more collapsing.
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Old 03-21-2018, 08:56 PM   #13
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Re: Lower Radiator Hose doesn't have a coil spring

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Originally Posted by 1972RedNeck View Post
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.
Huh? Putting a 15psi cap on doesn't inflate the system. It's not magic.

Maybe you've got enough pressure when hot to prevent collapse... should I infer from that you think it's OK to collapse when cold?
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Old 03-13-2018, 02:47 PM   #14
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Re: Lower Radiator Hose doesn't have a coil spring

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Originally Posted by superhondaz50 View Post
My new hose had no spring. The old spring was rusted into oblivion, so I am going to run it without a 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.
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Old 03-13-2018, 02:06 PM   #15
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Originally Posted by liftlawssuck View Post
You take the old spring out and put it in a new hose. That's the way it's always been.
Ok. Great! Thanks for the explanation!! I was hoping it might be that easy.

Thanks again!!
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Old 03-13-2018, 03:49 PM   #16
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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.

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Old 03-13-2018, 03:52 PM   #17
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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.
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Old 03-13-2018, 05:02 PM   #18
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Re: Lower Radiator Hose doesn't have a coil spring

Good instructive reply. Thanks Sick472.
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Old 03-13-2018, 05:20 PM   #19
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Re: Lower Radiator Hose doesn't have a coil spring

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Good instructive reply. Thanks Sick472.
Agreed. I'm gonna try no spring. Worst case, I buy a spring lol
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Old 03-13-2018, 10:05 PM   #20
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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.

Last edited by mike16; 03-13-2018 at 10:18 PM.
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Old 03-20-2018, 10:42 PM   #21
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Re: Lower Radiator Hose doesn't have a coil spring

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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?
Ah, you just had to bring math into the subject, eh? Well, we might as well get into the nitty gritty of it to show that you are wrong.

Even if the water pump pumped 50 GPM (which would be pushing it for even a high volume pump) and the bottom radiator hose was 1 1/2" diameter, it would take a .55 psi pressure differential to flow the 50 GPM through the system.

In other words, as long as our radiator cap holds .55 psi, no collapsing will happen.

If you have a cap that holds no pressure (bad rubber on the cap), and a clogged radiator, then yes, your bottom radiator hose can collapse.

But, I digress - you can believe what you want, and I will believe the facts and physics.


Good day.
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Old 03-21-2018, 12:32 AM   #22
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Re: Lower Radiator Hose doesn't have a coil spring

I will say that in general, a collapsing lower hose means a clogged radiator. Does any newer vehicle have a spring? I know that my 2000 Astrovan didn't. But the hoses looked to be made a bit better.
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Old 03-14-2018, 08:51 AM   #23
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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.
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Old 03-14-2018, 10:02 AM   #24
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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.
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Old 03-14-2018, 12:03 PM   #25
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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.

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