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best lube for getting a coolant line onto a rusty pipe?

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ok, so I'm replacing the lower heater hose on my '82... the one that goes into the tubing on the engine... yeah, the little S-shaped piece...

 

the hose is new, the pipe is 24 years old and rusty... and there's not a lot of room to work down there... definately no room for a wire brush attachment... maybe a toothbrush sized one...

 

I'm going to need to lube it to get it on there... I tried a bit of silicon spray, but that doesn't get far...

 

what should I use? KY? gotta be something slick that isn't bad for the cooling system...

 

 

--Spiffy

i would say ky or vaseline, but just use a minimal. and spray the pipe with pb or something to eat some of that rust off of it. and lube the end of the pipe instead of the inside of the hose.

Maybe some sandpaper to get rid of the corrosion?

The corrosion is surface only as the pipe is brass. If you can use a chemical to clean it (even the PB Blaster will probably work fine). I have been recommended KY as a hose/bushing lube by the local Navy shipyard folk.

I have been recommended KY as a hose/bushing lube by the local Navy shipyard folk.

As funny as that sounds, it'd probably work well. Any water-based lubricant for that matter. The flow of the coolant will just wash away any excess lube, making that hose seal all nice.

yeah the KY would be best. vasaline is oil based so i'd have to say no on that one

 

If you get the good KY you can use that around the house for other things too.... :headbang:

 

sorry...had to say it.

The best option is throttle body cleaner as it lubes very well and dries completely away in 60 seconds. Vaseline or KY will not brake down.

The best option is throttle body cleaner as it lubes very well and dries completely away in 60 seconds. Vaseline or KY will not brake down.

 

yeah but brake/throttle body cleaner is very agressive and may eat away at your hoses

Use spit.

 

Seriously. It works.

 

Just spit into the hose, and on the pipe. Smear it around, and then slide the hose on.

 

You don't need a big sticky glob of snot or anything, just a little saliva.

 

BTW this also works fantastic for putting handlebar ends on bicycles. It was a bicycle shop that told me to try this.

Use spit.

 

Seriously. It works.

 

Just spit into the hose, and on the pipe. Smear it around, and then slide the hose on.

 

You don't need a big sticky glob of snot or anything, just a little saliva.

 

BTW this also works fantastic for putting handlebar ends on bicycles. It was a bicycle shop that told me to try this.

 

 

Ill have to second this. It sounds redneck (OK ....it IS redneck):rolleyes: but it works.

 

Plus.....as long as you havent been into the "good stuff" whilst you work on your sube.....it is non-corrosive:grin:

  • Author

well I was able to get it on enough with some water-based KY equivalent from Walgreens... wasn't able to get it all the way on because of the angle and the amount of rust pushing against me... had to remove the upper hose and the pcv hose to get enough access for my hands... of course those came off and went back on with no problems...

 

it's rusted through... I don't know who has brass pipes, but mine are silver, and really rusty and the tips are not all there anymore... (will post pics later if I remember)

 

I got enough of the hose on the get a hose clamp around it and hold it on... that's going to have to work until it breaks or I am working on something else in the area...

 

I think a webber conversion would clear up the clutter in that area nicely...

 

 

--Spiffy

...it's rusted through... I don't know who has brass pipes, but mine are silver, and really rusty and the tips are not all there anymore... (will post pics later if I remember)...

Heater core uses brass pipes... engine side uses steel and will have rust/corrosion issues.

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