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RADIATOR AND FUEL FILLER HOSES
From cooling to fueling, hoses are nothing if not flexible.
by Rick Hudson
Versatility—being flexible enough to deal effectively with a variety of challenging issues—is a big part of who we are here at RL Hudson. From O-rings to shaft seals to custom molded rubber, plastic, and polyurethane, our products are as versatile as the needs of our OEM customers. No product line better exemplifies that versatility than rubber hoses. We specialize in two major types of formed rubber hoses: radiator hoses and fuel filler hoses. Here’s a look at the characteristics and manufacturing of both.
COOLING OFF The coolant system hoses we offer are manufactured per the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J20 surface vehicle standard. If you thumb through the J20 standard (I’d suggest a strong cup of coffee first), you’ll see that different types of coolant hoses are designated. The hoses we offer are types 20 R 3 and 20 R 4—heater and radiator hoses for normal service.
Within each type of coolant system hose, various classes are further defined based on differing resistance to variables such as temperature and oil. For example, the 20 R 4 hoses we offer are class D-1 and are made of an ethylene propylene (EPDM) compound. As you may already know, EPDM is the primary polymer used for coolant hoses because of its good resistance to heat, hot water, and ethylene glycol (the most common antifreeze). EPDM also has good resistance to weathering and ozone damage.
The radiator hoses we offer are manufactured as depicted in the illustration below. The inner liner (of EPDM) is extruded first, then this “tube” is reinforced by a layer of knitted fabric (such as polyester, rayon, or Kevlar®) and covered by an outer layer of EPDM. The hose is then cooled in water and cut into lengths. These lengths are placed on shaped metal mandrels (which have been lubricated to facilitate both installation and removal of the hose). During vulcanization in high-pressure steam, the hoses assume the shapes of the mandrels. The shaped, vulcanized lengths are later stripped from the mandrels, washed, and further trimmed (if necessary).
FILLING UP In addition to radiator hoses, we also offer fuel filler hoses manufactured per the SAE J30 surface vehicle standard. As with coolant system hoses, fuel filler hoses are also differentiated into types. We offer types 30 R 6 and 30 R 7—low-pressure hoses for use with gasoline, diesel fuel, lubrication oil, or fuel system and crankcase vapors found in internal combustion engines.
The 30 R 6 hoses we offer feature a smooth inner tube made of a fuel- and oil-resistant synthetic rubber (such as nitrile) reinforced (by polyester, rayon, or Kevlar®) and covered with an oil-, ozone-, and heat-resistant synthetic rubber such as chloroprene (Neoprene®). They are designed to connect the vehicle filler neck to the fuel tank and to resist gasoline (leaded and unleaded), diesel fuel, gasohol, and oxygenated fuels. The fuel filler hoses we offer are manufactured in the same manner as described earlier for radiator hoses.
CALLING—AND CLICKING—ON US If you need high quality coolant system or fuel filler hoses, please don’t hesitate to call us toll-free at 1-800-722-6766. We’ll be happy to put our versatility to work for you. And, as always, you can get more information on all of the products we offer (and access useful resources such as our Interactive Chemical Compatibility Guide) by visiting our web site at www.rlhudson.com.
Kevlar® is a registered trademark of DuPont. Neoprene® is a registered trademark of DuPont Dow Elastomers.
Rick Hudson is founder and President of RL Hudson.
