Radiator hoses transfer coolant from the water pump to the radiator and come in application-specific or universal designs. It’s recommended to replace the hose clamp when replacing the hose. The size of the hose affects the flow rate and saturation time, with the lower hose typically larger in diameter.
A radiator hose is one that transfers coolant from an engine’s water pump to its radiator. It is connected to a nozzle on the radiator or engine water pump or inlet by a clamp. Most radiator hose designs are application-specific molded hoses; However, there are some universal designs that can be bent and adapted to many different applications.
When replacing a radiator hose, it is advisable to also replace the hose clamp. There are many types of radiator hose clamps in use, from the single strand of heavy spring steel that installs with a pair of pliers, to the more common screw type that installs and tightens with a screwdriver. Some return radiator hose designs use a steel spring inside the hose to prevent it from being sucked in by the force of the water pump.
In most applications, the return radiator hose is the bottom or lower radiator hose. The water pump draws coolant from the radiator through this hose and into the engine block. The water pump pushes the coolant through the engine block and into the heads. Once the coolant has finished its journey through the engine, it has absorbed a large amount of heat. It is then pushed out of the engine and sent back to the radiator to begin its cooling cycle.
There are as many different hose dimensions as there are designs. While each vehicle has its own specific hose design with bends in the right places, each vehicle uses its own hose size. They range from hoses as small as 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter up to hoses with diameters of several inches. The flow rate required by the time it takes to extract heat from the motor dictates the size of hose needed to achieve that flow rate.
An engine that has its coolant circulating through it and the radiator too quickly will overheat. Coolant must have time in the engine to absorb heat and time in the radiator to expel it. Radiator hose size can help achieve this time, which is known as saturation time. Often the lower radiator hose is larger in diameter than the upper hose. This allows the water pump to draw a large amount of coolant from the radiator, but the smaller hose at the top prevents coolant from escaping the engine too quickly.
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