Coolant hose clamps

[danclark]

I just ordered replacement hoses for my *entire* cooling system. However, I neglected to get hose clamps. Are the VW ones that use the Oetiker pliars available and desires me, or should I look to go with the ones that tighten with a screw? Also, has someone compiled a list or diagram, outlining each coolant hose and the size clamps required?

Thanks, guys.

87 Westy 2.1

[djkeev]

Ah..... clamps.

The crimp on Oetiker style is often the clamp of choice for smaller hoses, fuel lines, small coolant hoses, etc.

Trouble is that they are one use, cut them off.
If you use these, carry replacement clamps for those emergency applications that may arise.

OG coolant clamps, the flat spring steel pinch to open clamps have proven themselves over the decades and are still OG on many new vehicles....... Proven technology.
These units are always squeezing the hose tight to the pipe. Unless they rust and fail, they are great.

Screw style clamps come in various forms, from dime store crap to high dollar continuous tensioning designs.

Run screaming from the common cheap clamps. The cut spirals that the screw engages into cut into the hose like a cheese grater and it destroys the hose over time.

There are much better screw clamps that perform well, but you pay for them.

Gates has a "new" system of shrink style clamps. They are rubber based and size specific. Heat them and they shrink onto the hose exerting continuous tension. They work extremely well but again, are a one use product.

I personally intellectuallly KNOW that the OG spring clamps work great but.......

I use quality screw clamps, ABA, I believe.
There is something that deeply satisfies my soul using a screw driver to tighten them up! A quirk that I can live with.
In my younger days (1960's) I had a Dodge spring clamp snap on me, in later years I've been bitten by and wrestled with Spring style clamps to a great level of frustration. This frustration has progressed to the point that any unit I buy gets quality screw clamps installed pretty quickly.

Your choice, just shy away from the cheap screw clamps.

Dave
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[danclark]

Thanks for the detailed reply, Dave. During a cursory search for spring clamps, I see they are quite pricey! I would like to stick with those, but in the event I cannot, how does one tell which of the screw-type clamps are of sufficient quality?

[djkeev]

This is pretty much the pinacle of screw clamp technolgy, work backwards from here. ....... at $9 per clamp, many shynaway from them. I did use these on my fuel tank filler vent pipes for they clamp round without distortion of the hose.

http://www.jegs.com/i/Gates/465/32712/10002/-1?ref...DQod16cKOw

As I mentioned the ABA clamps, a quality unit at an affordable price. They protect the hose from damage.

Others will chime in with their favorites. But really, if you aren't biased against spring style clamps as I am, simply reuse what you have.

Dave
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[Wasted youth]

I like the spring clamps because they will keep the tension even as the hose ages and gets crushed. Screw clamps are stationary in their tension and so as the hose ages, the clamp basically gets loose. But a lot of those spring clamps are in awkward places and the best way to put them in is with the special tool. Got mine from Napa, but it was about $50 and I wore out the ratchet in the course of the project. Still, I have a good clamped up system with a few thousand miles on it. No leaks, all tight.

Napa gave me a replacement tool.

[bluebus86]

I third that opinion. stock type spring clamps are great except they can be a pain to install, remove in some space limited situations.

screw clamp can be found of high to low quality, stick with the high end

West Marine sell two grades, good and very good. solid non cut band design, ALL stainless even the screw, and of sturdy construction. with a nut driver youd be hard pressed to strip one. and that is primarily what I have used on the big hoses.

In decades of use have yet to have one screw type (top grade west marine bought) leak from loosening or any other cause. Thus I am not worried about the advantage the spring clamp may theroretically have, ie it will shrink, maintaining some tension, if the hose shrinks.

I avoid the elcheapo or wrong clamps, they may rust, strip under low force, have perferated bands, etc...


good luck
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[Ahwahnee]

[bluebus86]

[T3 Pilot]

Here is the diagram indicating the various hose clamps and their locations......

That is a lot of hose clamps now that I look at it....

http://www.oemepc.com/vw/part_single/catalog/vw/ma...695/lang/e

Here is a good source for clamps....

https://www.belmetric.com/metric-clamps-c-15.html

Or the wrecking yard if you have a good pick 'n' pull nearby
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