Is there an upgrade to standard automotive hoses?
Auto repair

Is there an upgrade to standard automotive hoses?

Barry Blackburn / Shutterstock.com

Your vehicle uses a wide variety of hoses to transport everything from engine coolant to gasoline and brake fluid. Most of the standard hoses on your car are made of rubber - it's flexible, relatively strong, can withstand heat to a certain point, and is relatively inexpensive. Typically, automakers choose hoses that fit the widest range of needs and budgets.

There are several possible options:

  • Stainless steel: Braided stainless steel hoses can be used for a wide variety of applications in the car. They are very well suited for fuel lines and can also replace standard brake lines if desired. Stainless steel hoses are very strong, exceptionally durable and very heat resistant. However, they can be very costly.

  • silicone: Heat-resistant silicone withstands very high temperatures without any damage. It is also lightweight and moderately flexible. Silicone hoses can be used on your engine primarily to replace coolant hoses. However, silicone can also be easily cut by an improperly installed clamp or eaten by an engine component rubbing against it during operation.

The best course of action would be to talk to a mechanic about your options and what you can expect in terms of durability and performance versus cost, as well as potential issues you may run into.

Add a comment