What Is Silicone Hose

What Is Silicone Hose and Why Do You Need It?

Silicon hoses are slowly gaining dominance in the automotive industry. And, there is a solid reason behind it. It doesn’t break down so easily. Unlike the rubber ones it actually goes a long way to keep the engine functional. But do you know what a silicone hose is and what’s its purpose? 

Silicone hoses are wrapped around the engine to keep the temperature at an optimal level all the time. It circulates the coolant to prevent any kind of damage to the inner parts. Because silicone as a material is better suited to tolerate heat, pressure, and vibration without failing.

Now, that was just the tip of an iceberg. In this article, we will go through why you need silicone hoses, and how the whole mechanism works inside your car. 

So, what are we waiting for? Let’s get started.

A Detailed Explanation: What Is a Silicone Hose?

A hose is nothing but a pipe that conveys a liquid substance from one point to another. When you wrap the hose pipe with silicone rubber, it becomes a silicone hose. It’s as simple as that. 

Silicone hoses are made to provide the same service more efficiently. Because there is a unique “Si-O” bond inside the silicone molecules. It enables the hose to stay strong even when the temperature rises above 300 Degrees Celsius. 

That’s why researchers found a silicone hose to be thermally more stable than the traditional ones.

What Is The Purpose Of A Silicone Hose?

The main purpose of a silicon hose is the same as any regular hose. It cools down the temperature of a vehicle’s engine. Once you open the hood of your car, the interior is not as glossy as the outer look. 

A robust engine continuously produces power and runs the motor. However, the process also generates a huge amount of heat within the engine compartments.

If you don’t do anything about it, the heat will damage the vulnerable parts needed for proper function. That’s when the hose comes into the scene. It circulates a special cooling substance throughout the whole engine. 

According to the law of thermodynamics, the temperature of the engine slowly starts decreasing and the opposite happens with the coolant. Through frequent cooling, the engine gets to work within an optimum temperature without any danger.

How to Make a Silicone Hose?

Have you ever wondered how silicone hoses are made so precisely? Then, you will love the brief explanation of its manufacturing process below. 

Step 1 (Gathering Raw Materials): 

The very first step is to acquire all the raw materials. In this case, the manufacturers need reinforced fabrics, silicone rubber, pigments, etc. 

A Silicone hose has several layers made from various materials. The type of material used in every layer will ultimately determine the quality and strength.

Step 2. Milling:

Now that we have the primary ingredients, it’s time to mix. The process is known as “milling.” In this step, the color pigments are poured into the silicone rubber. It takes a while for the compound to change its original color.

Step 3. Calendering: 

The next process is called “calendering.” That’s because the substance is spread under a rolling machine. Here, the machine will run through the compound and turn it into a thin sheet.

There will be many discrepancies if you try to handle it through your hands. But the machine makes sure the consistency is even throughout the sheet.

Step 4. Cutting The Sheets:

This is the easiest step so far. A machine is prepared to cut the sheet according to a predetermined size. The measurement should be on point to get the ideal thickness of the hose.

 Then, the workers roll the piece to give it a “pipe” shape. They can make it of any diameter by just setting a different measurement. 

Step 5. Using Mandrel Tools:

Now, the hoses are in a basic shape. To enhance the look, the manufacturers push them down the mandrel tools. These are shaping equipment with different types of designs imprinted on the body. Depending on the purpose, the designs on the mold are selected.

A mandrel tool is made using metals. And, extremely hot silicone hoses coming just out of the “calendering” machine goes into it. That’s where the hoses get bent and shaped however the manufacturers wish. 

But for that, the mandrel tool needs to be of the exact silicone hose shape we see in the market. This can be achieved by manipulating the metal mold.

Step 6. Trimming The Edges

Finally, the hose looks almost perfect. At this stage, it only needs to cool down. The manufacturers pull it out of the shaping tool and start the washing process. 

Once the temperature is low enough, they will send it to the trimming section. 

There, trimming equipment is installed to cut the edges and smoothen the harsh joints. It makes sure that the hose will fit into congested areas without any trouble. 

After all the silicone hoses pass a quality test, they are ready to go into the market.

 How Does Silicone Hose Work?

 You already have the basic idea of why an engine needs silicone hoses around it. But, let’s clear it up even more. Shall we?

  • Lower Hose

It covers the lower part of the engine. The radiator conveys the coolant to this part of the hose first. You can say the substance is always cooler in this area. From here, the coolant is injected into the engine. 

  • Heater Hose

You can also call it the upper hose. Because it stays right on top of the hot engine. As the substance gets out of the engine, the heater hose receives it. Then it helps to convey this coolant to its original place. 

As the cooling substance leaves the engine, it tends to be at the highest temperature. So, the heater hose is made extra durable to withstand that.

  • Over-tank Hose

Over-tank hoses are installed just by the heater hose. The hoses are measured to accommodate a certain amount of liquid. However, heat can cause the liquid to expand.

 In that case, the heater hose won’t be sufficient to hold everything. To avoid any kind of leakage, the over-tank hoses are designed. When the substance overflows from the upper hose, it collects them safely.

  • Thermostat

Before entering the radiator again, the thermostat checks the temperature. It should reach a predetermined level to get the lock open. If the liquid is hotter than the ideal level, it won’t be allowed to check into the radiator box. 

The overall process is quite fascinating, isn’t it? 

What Is A Good Brand Of Silicone Vacuum Hose?

Now that you are sure why silicone hoses can provide support for your vehicles, it’s time to shop. And, that’s when you start to wonder how many brand of silicone hose exist in the market.

No worries. We have some brand recommendations that should be enough to boost your confidence.

The most popular and reliable silicone hose brand has to be AutoKoop. The hoses are claimed to withstand up to 374F or 190C. That’s a pretty impressive threshold.  

Another brand you can trust is the G-PLUS silicone hose kit. The core material here is the strong 3-ply nylon silicone. The pricing is affordable and you can choose any shape.

And, the list doesn’t finish here. You can also check out Mishimoto, LTI-DIRECT, or Autobahn88. You never know which one will win your heart.

(FAQs): About Silicone Hose

Do Silicone Hoses Show Leakage Issues? 

There is no guarantee that silicone hoses are immune to leakage. However, they tend to be more durable and heat resistant. As a result, you can enjoy more days without any leakage problems.

Will Silicone Hose Improve Engine Performance?

If the hose pipe is not cooling the engine properly for whatever reason, your vehicle will face trouble running. Using a silicone hose, you can ensure that the coolant will remain safe within the pipe. It surely increases the performance of the engine.

Is Silicon Hose Better Than Rubber?

Silicone is better than rubber when it comes to hoses. Silicone offers solid characteristics like higher resistance to heat, pressure, adhesion, and chemical reaction. 

Video: How To Make Silicone Hose By Hand

Conclusion

Engines can get extremely hot due to intense operations. That’s why you need a hose that won’t give up easily. Because nobody wants to deal with a rubber-hose leakage every now and then, right? 

Our recommendation is to go for a silicone hose. It offers extra durability along with top-notch performance. No doubt the popularity of silicone hoses has skyrocketed in recent years. 

Hence, we attempted to clarify what is silicone hose throughout this article. Because we believe only a well-informed owner can make the best decision for his vehicle.

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