When thinking about the radiator hose in your car engine, you are probably familiar with a standard rubber hose that works to connect your radiator with parts of the engine and heating/cooling systems in your car. However, though a rubber hose is typical, it is becoming more popular to choose a silicone radiator hose instead. Though similar in function, there are some important advantages in choosing to use a silicone hose rather than a standard rubber hose.
Silicone Hoses Are Easier to Remove
Rubber radiator hoses tend to be more “sticky” than their silicone counterparts, which means that they can sometimes bond themselves to the radiator outlets. This can cause issues, as if you need to remove the hose, unsticking it can be tedious. Silicone hoses not only attach to the radiator easily but do not have the same components as rubber, so will not deteriorate or bond themselves to parts of the engine. Therefore, they can be removed simply and quickly.
Silicone Hoses Have Aesthetic Differences
According to Auto Express, using silicone in performance cars is seen as an upgrade from standard rubber, showing the popularity of the use of silicone in improving a vehicle.
Not only are they better for performance, but they are also much more attractive to look at than a standard rubber hose. Silicone has a pleasing sheen that can look metallic, making the internal mechanisms of a vehicle look good. In the current market, where the way an engine looks can be as important to a car owner as the way it performs, these enhancements are important, and it is definitely a valid reason when considering using silicone hoses over rubber.
Silicone Hoses Are Easily Available
Silicone hoses are generally available at all good car repair garages and can also be found at speciality stores on the high-street, a silicone hose manufacturer or even in online stores such as goodflexrubber.
It should be noted that silicone can be a more expensive choice than rubber due to the cost of materials being higher, but this is worth it in the long run as you will need to replace them far less than you would a rubber hose. You may also need to purchase some different connectors or clamps to fit your hose, as silicone is usually thicker than rubber.