Traditionally we are accustomed to using rubber vacuum hoses, but recently, silicone hoses got much more attention. Maximum people nowadays are replacing their old rubber hoses with newer silicone vacuum hoses. But why is that? Well, when comparing silicone vs. rubber vacuum hoses, there are many differences, and most of them are in favor of silicone.
The major difference between Silicone vacuum hoses and rubber vacuum hoses is their durability. Silicone is less susceptible to heat and environmental hazards. Therefore, they stay in good condition for a longer time compared to rubber.
However, this is not the only difference between these two hoses. There are more distinctions between them that you should know before buying one. I hope this guide could be a great help for you. So, stay tuned till the end to get a detailed idea of silicon vs. rubber hoses.
What are vacuum hoses?
A vacuum hose is found in vehicles used as power sources. Modern-day electric cars may not have any vacuum hoses, but any vehicle that runs on gasoline will have one.
Usually, vacuum hoses are made of rubber material. There is another type of vacuum hose in the market that is getting popular lately. It is a silicone vacuum hose.
What is Silicone Vacuum Hose
Silicone can be expressed as a hybrid form between synthetic rubber and plastic. The quality of this material is quite high compared to rubber.
Pros:
- Silicone is made of siloxane, which makes it highly durable.
- Silicone hoses look appealing compared to others.
Cons:
- Silicone is slightly expensive.
What is Rubber Vacuum Hose
Rubber is an elastic substance. We have been using rubber vacuum hoses for a long time in our cars. They have their own advantages as well as disadvantages.
Pros:
- When compared to silicone, rubber hoses cost less.
- Rubber hoses have a good fixing ability with metal due to their elastic nature.
Cons:
- Rubber hoses tend to decay earlier.
A Quick Comparison Chart: Rubber vs Silicone Vacuum Hose
| Basis of Comparison | Silicone Vacuum Hose | Rubber Vacuum Hose |
| Durability | Excellent | Moderate |
| Price | $1 to $4 per feet | $0.5 to $2 per feet |
| Wall thickness | 3mm to 15mm | 1mm to 3mm |
| Noise level | Low | Medium |
| Temperature resistance | High | Medium |
| Pressure resistance | High | Medium |
| Can be used with oil | No | Yes |
| Color options | A wide range of options is available | Only a few options are available |
Silicone vs. Rubber Vacuum Hose: Key Differences
As silicone and rubber are different materials, hoses made a lot of differences too. These differences influence their overall performance. Therefore you might want to get into the deep before you make a decision to buy one of the hoses.
Some of the key differences between Silicone and rubber vacuum hoses are;
- Resistance to temperature
Silicone vacuum hoses are more resistant to high temperatures than rubber hoses. The rubber hoses used in vehicles are also good at withstanding heat, but not as much as the silicone ones.
They tend to expand and leak if exposed to high heat for a long time. In contrast, silicone vacuum hoses stay in fine condition for a longer period.
- Durability
Rubber vacuum hoses deteriorate earlier than silicone vacuum hoses. Some even say that they can outlast the lifespan of your car.
Though the cost of silicone hoses is higher than rubber hoses, they cost less if you calculate the per-mile cost. Silicone hoses can withstand rough weather, including drought and flood, very well.
- Outlook
To some people, the outlook of vacuum hoses also matters. When compared side by side, silicone vacuum hoses look more attractive.
They are available in more colors than rubber hoses. Most silicone hoses have a metallic sheen that makes them more appealing. On the other hand, rubber hoses do not have such features.
- Noise control
Due to the friction between rubber and mating surfy, rubber hoses tend to create a slightly loud noise. Silicone hoses, in contrast, can reduce the noise to a greater extent.
- Flexibility
Silicone vacuum hoses are also more flexible compared to rubber ones. Whether you want to install or replace silicone hoses, you will find that very easy.
Rubber hoses, on the other hand, may get stuck to other materials due to the long exposure to heat. That makes them less flexible and tough to replace.
- Compatibility with oil
Though silicone vacuum hoses outperform rubber hoses in every sector, they are not compatible with oil. Silicone is permeable to oil-based products. But rubber can work fine with oil.
Silicone vs. Rubber Vacuum Hose: Which one should you buy?
In the above explanation, you can clearly see that silicone vacuum hoses work better in almost every area. But when it comes to oil, the traditional rubber hoses are an obvious choice.
So, if you are buying the hose for use with oil-based products, you should go for rubber vacuum hoses. And silicone hoses are recommended for every other usage.
Best silicone vacuum hoses
If you have decided to purchase silicone vacuum hoses, you can check the following items:
- Ucreative Silicone Vacuum Tubing Hose
If you are looking for a durable silicone vacuum hose at a reasonable price, then Ucreative Silicone Vacuum Tubing Hose can be a great choice. It is 5 feet long and comes with different thicknesses. The hose is pretty flexible and can withstand very high temperatures from -40° C to 220° C.
- Autobahn88 High-Performance Silicone Vacuum Hose
You also can check the Autobahn88 Silicone Vacuum Hose. There are different sizes available, from 5 feet to 15 feet. You will have an option to select from a wide range of colors. It can withstand temperatures from -60° C to 190° C and has a pressure rating of 60 PSI.
Autobahn88 Silicone Vacuum Hose can be a good choice for both transporting water and air to the engine. It comes with Vacuum Hose DIY kits, which is pretty helpful.
Video: Rubber Hose For Vacuum VS Silicone Vacuum Hose ?
Conclusion
To sum up the debate on Silicone vs. rubber vacuum hoses, it can be said that silicone offers better efficiency. Though they cost a little higher, the output they provide makes silicone vacuum hoses an obvious choice over rubber vacuum hoses.
Silicone hoses are more durable, easy to handle and perform excellently against heat. At the same time, rubber hoses are great if you are looking forward to using them with oil-based products.
It’s good to know that silicone hoses are more resistant to high temperatures. My husband needs a new silicone hose for his motorbike, or at least that’s what he told me yesterday. I’m hoping he can visit the supplier to get it before he leaves for his motorcycle trip next week.