Tale of radiator hose woe and size question

[lockwood77]

After some research on here, I bought a 38mm water temp sender adapter to be cut into the top radiator hose. Being of minimal backbone, I thought I\'d let WGT have the pleasure of installing it when I went up for a service/remap last week.

After Pip\'s test drive (at the end of the day), they discovered the hose was leaking from around the adapter. New jubilee clips were duly fitted and the leak apparently stopped, after which I drove home (no further tests done, presumably as it was nearly 5.30pm).

Came to move the car on Friday, and found a nice damp patch under the car. Sadly, I was tied up all weekend with various things (weddings etc.) and didn\'t get chance to look at it until Monday afternoon. This was not good, as I had a day of driving tuition with Don Palmer booked today!

Anyway, after much arsing around with PTFE tape, gasket sealant etc., it was clear that the adapter is too small as we couldn\'t stop the leak. It moves far too easily into the hose, where it should be a tight push fit - the jubilee clips are only to retain position, not create a seal after all.

So I\'ve had to reschedule the driving day (lucky, as it was paid in full and Don would have been within his rights to tell me it was too short notice) and am consequently none too pleased. I don\'t want to point the finger at WGT, as the parts were all supplied by me, but it would have been nice if (a) Pip had looked at its size and told me it was too small ("38mm" is stamped on the adapter and surely Pip has fitted enough to know what the correct size is?) and (b) they had checked the car properly after apparently sealing the leak (which they hadn\'t).

The hoses are aftermarket (I think - red, so I guess so), but surely they can\'t be larger diameter than stock as they fit to an OEM rad and of course the OEM filler neck?

Anybody know the correct size - should I be going for 40mm, 42mm or even larger!? :3Confused

[12A]

Get a ruler and measure the ID of the rad hose. Then get one in that size or as close to as possible. Get the vendor in question to cover any costs for lost coolant, etc as it was clearly their mistake to fit it.

[grinder]

it should be 38mm to be honest ??

im sure the FC is the same as the FD

unless your silcon has a thinner wall - or im more plyable in general and not holding the adaptor tight

mine was a good fit but not mega tight

[nikp]

mikalor clamps are the answer!

[12A]

and check the jubilee clips aren\'t too big also. they might be the problem?

[rico2k_uk]

silicon hoses are thinner slightly from what i have experianced. mikalor clips should help more as they compress much better, but they aint cheap!

[lockwood77]

Cheers guys, I\'ll look into the clips. As for the diameter, well, would I not be suffering the same problem at either end of the hose as well as where the new cut is? i.e. Wouldn\'t it leak from the neck and/or radiator joins too?

The jubilee clips are very tight although you can see they could be tightened more if the diameter of the hose/adapter allowed.