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BulliBill Samba Member
Joined: July 09, 2004 Posts: 4561 Location: St Charles, MO
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Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 12:42 pm Post subject: lubricants used to install fuel and coolant hoses? |
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I'll be installing all new coolant hoses from front to back on my 68K OG mile '87 Automatic trans Westfalia. I'm installing new S.S. main coolant hoses, a new radiator, a new SS coolant junction tower, new SS coolant pressure tank and few new SS pipe fittings, a new thermostat housing/thermostat/thermostat top, etc. We are also dropping the fuel tank to re-seal with the GW vent crossover kit.
My questions while getting ready to tackle all of this is what assorted lubricants, cream or aerosol, can be used (or none?) to safely slide all of the new coolant hoses over their various barbed fittings? Also, what lubricants can be safely used when installing that GW fuel tank vent grommets/seals kit? I've seen in the GW install videos that they brush or wipe on a sort of white grease all over the grommets when installing them into the tank holes and then on the plastic fittings that insert into those grommets to help lubricate the process and help seal. Are there any other suggested greases/lubricants, etc that I should have on hand to use for this upcoming work. Any tips and product suggestions would be very helpful for a more successful refresh. Thanks in advance for your advice and explanations!
Bill _________________ I'm looking for these license plate frames for my fleet:
Coeur D'Alene - Lake Shore Volkswagen
Mission VW - San Fernando
Thornton VW - Stockton
Thanks for any help! |
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Wildthings Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50262
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Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 12:51 pm Post subject: Re: lubricants used to install fuel and coolant hoses? |
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I will often start with WD40.
For coolant hoses you can use soap and for gas hoses Vaseline will usually work. Spray silicone or other dry lubricants can be used in many places as well. |
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joetiger Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2005 Posts: 5068 Location: denver
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Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 12:51 pm Post subject: Re: lubricants used to install fuel and coolant hoses? |
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I use silicone spray lube. It's very effective and I'm told that it doesn't damage rubber. _________________ Joe T.
'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'04 GTI 1.8T
'04 Golf R32
"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron
"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond
Available Now! Vanagon to Louisiana--A Two-Lane Reckoning Through Past and Present
www.josephtrussell.com |
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hardway Samba Member
Joined: January 03, 2012 Posts: 409 Location: Fidalgo Island
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Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 12:57 pm Post subject: Re: lubricants used to install fuel and coolant hoses? |
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On the fuel tank grommets I use Sylglide. It is a silicone grease. Not too much! The Coolant hoses probably need no lube but if they do should should use a little coolant on them. Coolant is slippery. To push the fuel hose onto the smooth plastic tube as far as possible gasoline would be the best lubricant.
I would recommend that you stick with the plastic vent pipe above the tank. The reproduction ones work well. I have had leakage problems with the hose and aluminum ones. The plastic ones keep the barbed fitting perpendicular to the tank. Therefore no side load on the grommet. |
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danfromsyr Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004 Posts: 15130 Location: Syracuse, NY
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Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 12:59 pm Post subject: Re: lubricants used to install fuel and coolant hoses? |
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Spit..
seriously a little saliva goes a long ways..
but if not it's either WD40 or a silicone spray.. _________________
Abscate wrote: |
These are the reasons we have words like “wanker” |
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valvecovergasket Samba Member
Joined: October 10, 2018 Posts: 1491 Location: pnw
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Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 1:15 pm Post subject: Re: lubricants used to install fuel and coolant hoses? |
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danfromsyr wrote: |
Spit..
seriously a little saliva goes a long ways..
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yeah, this
or a quick spray of simple green/diluted dish soap/etc _________________ MegaSquirt resource - SpitfireEFI.com
gone, but not forgotten: '83 tdi westy - swap thread |
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skills@eurocarsplus Samba Peckerhead
Joined: January 01, 2007 Posts: 16803 Location: sticksville, ct.
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Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 1:22 pm Post subject: Re: lubricants used to install fuel and coolant hoses? |
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brake or carb clean. evaporates fast, slick as snot and won't seep into other fluids because it evaporates. also doesn't stay slick so no possibility of a hose popping off _________________
gprudenciop wrote: |
my reason for switching to subaru is my german car was turning chinese so i said fuck it and went japanese....... |
Jake Raby wrote: |
Thanks for the correction. I used to be a nice guy, then I ruined it by exposing myself to the public. |
Brian wrote: |
Also the fact that people are agreeing with Skills, it's a turn of events for samba history |
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Jeffrey Lee Samba Member
Joined: February 04, 2014 Posts: 1488 Location: Wisconsin
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Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 2:35 pm Post subject: Re: lubricants used to install fuel and coolant hoses? |
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I would hesitate to apply WD-40 to coolant hoses, at least those such as the originals made of EPDM rubber.
Whether true or not, WD-40 has been rumored to contain diesel fuel, which is known to be very detrimental to EPDM rubber. The original Diesel Vanagon Owner's Manual specifically warns against this.
What IS known, and stated by the makers, is that WD-40 contains 50% mineral spirits, which is listed as having a "Severe Effect" on EPDM:
https://www.wd40.com/myths-legends-fun-facts/
More info on what should and should not be used on EPDM rubber:
https://www.matsmatsmats.com/commercial-industrial/epdm-resistance-to-chemicals.html
Personally, I've never had excessive trouble connecting quality hoses to their intended fittings, and I wonder about the need for any such aids. In fact, it seems that such a critical connection, where a failure could have catastrophic results, is the LAST place one might want any kind of lubricant ...
FYI, on the exhaustive chart linked above, Salad Dressings are listed as N/A, so that's probably out, too ... _________________ Camp Westfalia
Camping Tips • Newsletter • Cool Campervan Apparel
www.CampWestfalia.com |
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SCM Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2011 Posts: 3102 Location: Bozeman MT
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Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 3:19 pm Post subject: Re: lubricants used to install fuel and coolant hoses? |
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I used nothing for my coolant hose replacement and no issues for 10 years EXCEPT for the "peace pipe" that connects to the water pump. I eventually put some anaerobic sealer on that connection (I forget the brand) and it didn't work any better. Turns out the hose was malformed and new hose fixed that problem.
I used nothing on my fuel hoses and they also worked fine for 10 years. So I did that again this spring when I replaced them again.
The fuel tank. If I remember correctly, I used Vaseline. The grommets haven't leaked in 10 years (man, I was busy 10 years ago) but the evap hoses themselves are ALL leaking now which seems odd but unrelated to the grommets.
So, IMHO, it doesn't really matter. _________________ '91 Westfalia GL Automatic (GTA "Turbo" Rebuild w/Peloquin) and 2.3L GoWesty Engine |
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Steve M. Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2013 Posts: 6798 Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
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Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 5:10 pm Post subject: Re: lubricants used to install fuel and coolant hoses? |
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Dish soap has worked many times for me. At the worst you might get a soap bubble out the exhaust! Really though it dries up and you do not have a conitinously slippery hose and it will dilute itself and wash away. _________________ This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.
There are seven days in a week. Someday is not one of them.
Last edited by Steve M. on Tue Jun 15, 2021 6:18 am; edited 1 time in total |
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DanHoug Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2016 Posts: 4717 Location: Bemidji, MN
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Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 5:54 pm Post subject: Re: lubricants used to install fuel and coolant hoses? |
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remember that like dissolves like. so silicone lube on rubber, and petroleum lube on silicone hoses/o-rings.
for coolant hoses, i like Ru-Glyde tire lube or just some antifreeze mix. but if the hose is going onto an aluminum fitting that may corrode and turn chalky, i like Sil-Glyde, a silicone based lube. fuel lines, if i MUST use it, i like Sil-Glyde. but it makes them so slippery there must be a flare to keep them on the fitting. keeps corrosion down tho.
on something like a rubber fuel line onto the rigid, non flared plastic lines you want as high a coefficient of friction as possible so dry or some spit if necessary. _________________ -dan
60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.
'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd
Past projects can be found at--
www.thefixitworkshop.com |
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Gizmoman Samba Member
Joined: September 10, 2011 Posts: 1554 Location: Nevada
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Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 6:15 pm Post subject: Re: lubricants used to install fuel and coolant hoses? |
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Enamel spay paint(or primer) works great.
It eventually dries, doesn't degrade the material, and may even help seal.
Learned this while putting new grips on handlebars. _________________ 82 Vanagon Westy - AAZ 1.9 TD, HE200 Holset, WAIC, 27.75 dia tires, Electric power steering, 5-speed AAP w/.078 5th
Oversize spare carrier - stock location (no longer for sale). |
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Abscate Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 22573 Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 11:12 pm Post subject: Re: lubricants used to install fuel and coolant hoses? |
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Chevy makes a great product for all Van hose lube called AstroGlide _________________ .ssS! |
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Zeitgeist 13 Samba Member
Joined: March 05, 2009 Posts: 12103 Location: Port Manteau
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Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 11:23 pm Post subject: Re: lubricants used to install fuel and coolant hoses? |
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Gizmoman wrote: |
Enamel spay paint(or primer) works great.
It eventually dries, doesn't degrade the material, and may even help seal.
Learned this while putting new grips on handlebars. |
I was just about to post this tip. _________________ Casey--
'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik? |
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Butcher Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2015 Posts: 1285 Location: Right Here
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Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2021 6:58 am Post subject: Re: lubricants used to install fuel and coolant hoses? |
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I used to use silicone spray on coolant hoses until I had a comeback. The hose came off and the clamp was tight. How tight? Tight enough I could not get it back on. Never again. Man up and shove it on dry.
O rings? Lube them up. |
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dobryan Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006 Posts: 16476 Location: Brookeville, MD
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jlrftype7 Samba Member
Joined: July 24, 2018 Posts: 3549 Location: Chicago
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Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2021 7:38 am Post subject: Re: lubricants used to install fuel and coolant hoses? |
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[quote="Abscate"]Chevy makes a great product for all Van hose lube called AstroGlide[/quote It had to be you.....It had to be you...I wandered around, and I finally found, The somebody who could make me be true...... ] _________________ '68 Westy- my first VW and vehicle/Bus- long gone.- sold it to a traveling Swiss couple....
'67 Type 3 Fastback, my 2nd car- gone
'69 Semi-Auto Stick Shift Beetle-gone
2017 MINI Coopers, our current DDs
‘84 Tin Top - Hilga....Auto |
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davlance01 Samba Member
Joined: May 10, 2013 Posts: 224 Location: Ohio
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Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2021 8:23 am Post subject: Re: lubricants used to install fuel and coolant hoses? |
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I do the same as wildthings.
I have the greasyist Vaseline jar you have ever seen. _________________ Life is short and the road is long so if you want to see it all you have to drive fast! |
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jlrftype7 Samba Member
Joined: July 24, 2018 Posts: 3549 Location: Chicago
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Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2021 8:57 am Post subject: Re: lubricants used to install fuel and coolant hoses? |
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Okay, now that I'm done teasing Abscate for that 'glide' comment.
I sometimes use Spray Silicone as noted by others, and if it's a really hard to fit hose, NAPA Sil-Glyde. Generally, the spray silicone works 99% of the time though.
WD-40 would not be my choice for this application, or Brake Cleaner since it evaporates so fast, but, stuff like Brake Cleaner has been recommended by BMW in the past for installing suspensions bushings into control arms and other parts since it does evap quickly. I think they were also okay with Naptha back in the day too. These days, I don't know.... _________________ '68 Westy- my first VW and vehicle/Bus- long gone.- sold it to a traveling Swiss couple....
'67 Type 3 Fastback, my 2nd car- gone
'69 Semi-Auto Stick Shift Beetle-gone
2017 MINI Coopers, our current DDs
‘84 Tin Top - Hilga....Auto |
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vwhammer Samba Member
Joined: May 20, 2006 Posts: 998 Location: Boulder CO.
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