Heater/Radiator Hose lubrication

[Terry M.]

Re: Heater/Radiator Hose lubrication

I have 2 kinds of silicone lubricant- commonly available silicone spray and a tube of Dow Corning "4X Compound" (probably dates back to the Johnson administration). I thought that the 4x which much thicker would hold up better than the spray. Any thoughts?
Jeff

Dow makes many kinds of Silicone grease. Some are a lubricant (which is what we want for this application) and some are an electrical insulator, some are sealants and some adhesives. I tried their web site, but it just conifused me. I will look at home at what I use tonight. I know one is a green tube and one a white tube with purple lettering. We use both of thiose products at work, and in our applications it is essential we not mix them up.

[Duke W.]

Re: Heater/Radiator Hose lubrication

I use Dow Corning High Vacuum Grease, cat no. 970 V, a 2-oz. jar that some lab rats gave me back in the seventies when I was in aerospace . They used it to seal thermal-vacuum chambers, so it's basically a sealing agent.

It's consistency is near constant from -40F to over 500F, and it's insoluble in water and most solvents.

I have no idea where you could get this stuff nowadays, but I think any "silicone grease" like dielectric insulating grease that you can buy at auto parts stores should work.

I'm about halfway through the two ounces, but I don't think it was quite full when they gave it to me nearly 40 years ago.

I use just a tiny dab and rub it around the inside of the hose until there is an even, but very thin film. I also make sure the nipple is clean with solvents and Scotchbrite pads as necessary.

I also use it on house plumbing fixture o-rings, and IMO it's much better at sealing faucet stems than plumber's grease.

Duke

[Terry M.]

Re: Heater/Radiator Hose lubrication

Joe: Would GM Lubriplate be considered as a silicone grease?? Larry

NO Larry. Lubriplate is a petroleum based product.

[Ronald L.]

Re: Heater/Radiator Hose lubrication

Too much and they won't stay on, especially the goose neck and by-pass hose connections on the early big blocks.

[Terry M.]

Re: Heater/Radiator Hose lubrication

Dow makes many kinds of Silicone grease. Some are a lubricant (which is what we want for this application) and some are an electrical insulator, some are sealants and some adhesives. I tried their web site, but it just conifused me. I will look at home at what I use tonight. I know one is a green tube and one a white tube with purple lettering. We use both of those products at work, and in our applications it is essential we not mix them up.

Here are just three that I was able to grab quickly from my stock. The mold release is the Dow 111 in the middle. The number 7 (left) is an insulating grease. It is slippery and will work fine for the radiator hose application we have been talking about. One must be careful with it around electrical connections, however.

[Bert L.]

Re: Heater/Radiator Hose lubrication

RU-GLYDE 'Tire Mounting & Rubber Lubricant'.......Has been around forever and is what I've always relied on to ease in the installing and fitting of hoses,tires, etc.

Bert

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Heater/Radiator Hose lubrication

This is the Dow silicone I have and plan on using. It says it is a "Lubricant and Preservative".
Jeff