Dribbling top hose

[Bren]

The top hose on my SD1 has always dribbled a bit, the hose clip's hex head had rounded a bit so a flat screwdriver was used, but you could only tighten it so much.

 

A new clip was fitted but it still dribbles - usually a new one cures the problem, not sure if it's the hose or the outlet on the rad. Any ideas?

 

While I'm on, what's best - k seal or the forte stuff? Don't want to use rad weld because once in the system it looks like the wildshites in the expansion tank, and everybody knows you have a problem when they see it. Car has a small leak in the cabin from the heater pipes and they are a bastard to get at.

[overrun]

Hose.

 

Do* what I did and think you are clever by chopping the end off the hose, then realise it actually flares out and now it no longer fits.

[derskine]

Hose.

 

Do* what I did and think you are clever by chopping the end off the hose, then realise it actually flares out and now it no longer fits.

 

Bit of vaseline and some boiling water.

Then complain to me that it didn't work when the hose pops off.

[stuboy]

double up the hoseclip if room?

[mercrocker]

Get the same on my Minor...Is it an aftermarket rad?   Minor ones are  never made properly but then again the same is true of the hoses.   The only cure I have found is to keep adjusting the fit until you find a "sweet spot" where the hose clip actually does what it is supposed to do.   Not sure I would use anything to try and seal a heater hose leak other than another hose but others may well tell you they have succeeded.  Its  not the matrix leaking at the outlet?

[sierraman]

some blue hylomar on the hose stub? I swear by this stuff!

[jbz2079]

There is a coolant system sealer made by Gannons Oils that is truely the dogs danglers.

I saw it stop a badly cracked David Brown Tractor block leaking long enough to finnish the job it was doing and then drive 8 miles to our garage to have the engine replaced.

 

Great for leaky core plugs and heater matrix.

[beko1987]

The XM had dribbly hose syndrome, turned out the ends of the pipe were perished. I chopped the ends off as they were not flared and it's done the job so far. I then found the replacement hose I bought whilst packing tools away so if it happens again it's not the end of the world

[twosmoke300]

Is it a good quality jubilee clip used in the middle of its range? Some cheap clips dont tighten up round . Also if its wound right in they sdont work as well.

Another thing to try is a few wraps of self-amalgamating or insulating tapoe round the stub first.

[Squire_Dawson]

Aye, use a genuine Jub clip and tighten it with a 7mm ring spanner (I think that's the correct size) You'll be surprised how many more turns you can get over a screwdriver, which always seem to damage the screw head.

[mat_the_cat]

I'd be concerned that there's excess pressure in the cooling system - do the hoses feel hard? Is there a hiss say a minute after a cold start when you take the cap off? (I.e. before there is any build up of pressure due to heat).

[Bren]

Just priced a new hose from rimmers - £32 plus VAT

 

Plus delivery - extortionate. No wonder there are hardly any SD1' s left.

[Bren]

Still pissing everywhere.

 

Will trim it down and see if it works before buying a new hose.

 

Worried that it might be something more serious although the cooling system does not appear to be pumped up.

[Tetleysmooth]

I've got a dribbling top hose, but I put that down to my age.

 

Seriously though, a jubilee clip with a 10 mil hex head, as on my wifes Pajero, make tightening sooo much easier. You can nip them up with a socket and ratchet.

[Squire_Dawson]

The only other explanation is that an outlet isn't perfectly round, or has suffered some corrosion or fracture allowing coolant to escape.

 

I'll add that also there may be some remnant of a long gone hose stuck to the outlet which makes the surface uneven and leads to a bad seal.

[Squire_Dawson]

Is exp. tank pressure cap of the correct rating?

[Bren]

Is exp. tank pressure cap of the correct rating?

Yep - 15 psi.

[Formula Autos]

You could always try some PTFE tape on the outlet, and tighten the hose and clip down onto that. It's waterproof and compressible, so should work. It's also used in domestic heating system set-ups, so should be OK at fairly high temperatures. Available at builders/plumbers merchants, B&Q, etc.