Damn hoses on the valve covers

ericem · Post by **ericem** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:29 am

How the heck do I get them off? They seem as hard as a rock. Replacing the valve covers gaskets and all so I really need to get them off so I can get the cover out and clean it up etc. I sprayed some rust break away and ill let it sit overnight hopefully the hoses will soften. Should I try using a hair dryer or possibly ill buy a heat gun and see if it comes off then?? Suggestions would be great thanks.

green91 · Post by **green91** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:33 am

I just went through the same thing and broke nearly all of them. unfortuntely rubber + oil + time = HARD lol.

SLODRIVE · Post by **SLODRIVE** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:36 am

If they're that hard, you might as well cut them off, because they'll never seal up well again even if you get them off in one piece.

ericem · Post by **ericem** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:37 am

Any part numbers for the hoses?

jp233 · Post by **jp233** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:42 am

just take a 90 deg pick and open it up a little bit around the circumference of the hose. then hold it open with said pick and spray some lube up in there.

sure they are easy to just replace though. i'm a cheap bastard sometimes, and all mine came off ok even with 150k and 190k respectively, and small zipties work just fine to hold them on again.

ericem · Post by **ericem** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:46 am

I think I will do the same. If I am unsuccesful I just found the part numbers. So I will probably order them if they are cheap.

green91 · Post by **green91** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:50 am

Rather than order oem ones, i think going to replace the PCV system with a catch can on my car.

SLODRIVE · Post by **SLODRIVE** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:57 am

Heater hose works too, ya know...it isn't as pretty as OEM, but it's around $1/foot and will actually seal, not just "stay on"...

RJ93SS · Post by **RJ93SS** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:58 am

can you get your hands on some silicone tubing. do not use heater hose. tranny oil line hose may last

SLODRIVE · Post by **SLODRIVE** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 2:22 am

RJ93SS wrote:can you get your hands on some silicone tubing. do not use heater hose. tranny oil line hose may last

Trust me, heater hose will work just fine. No, it isn't rated for oil per se, but it will hold up for a long, long time with just oil vapors and very small amounts of fluid going through it. I have cars here that have had the heater-hose breather lines for well over a decade and are still fine, in fact one going on 20 years. Between my cars and the dozens and dozens of mechanics I personally know who do the same thing everyday, nobody's going to change my mind. Just make sure you use good stuff like Gates.

What's funny is that silicone tubing is NOT recommended for oil at all, and sometimes even the packaging expressly states that as well...ever seen how soft and swelled-up an oil-soaked spark plug wire gets?

Think about that...

RJ93SS · Post by **RJ93SS** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 7:18 am

SLODRIVE wrote:
RJ93SS wrote:can you get your hands on some silicone tubing. do not use heater hose. tranny oil line hose may last
Trust me, heater hose will work just fine. No, it isn't rated for oil per se, but it will hold up for a long, long time with just oil vapors and very small amounts of fluid going through it. I have cars here that have had the heater-hose breather lines for well over a decade and are still fine, in fact one going on 20 years. Between my cars and the dozens and dozens of mechanics I personally know who do the same thing everyday, nobody's going to change my mind. Just make sure you use good stuff like Gates.

What's funny is that silicone tubing is NOT recommended for oil at all, and sometimes even the packaging expressly states that as well...ever seen how soft and swelled-up an oil-soaked spark plug wire gets? Think about that...

okay, i did my td04/06 i/c swap 6 months ago. the heater hose i used with the green layer in the middle has bulges in it now and feels really soft.

silicone will definitly last longer. but can get oil soaked. a catch can should be used. most of are stock hoses are made with a % of silicone.

the hose you should actually use is called "anti smog/pcv line"

it's made specifically for blow by gases for cars and trucks.

you could also use goodyear "gorilla" line.

SLODRIVE · Post by **SLODRIVE** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 8:09 am

Most OEM hoses have an EPDM rubber coating for heat protection, wihch is not the same as silicone. In the OEM, silicone is normally only used for coolant hoses and for turbocharger hoses; the latter uses silicone for heat resistance and flexibility, and even those deteriorate over time from oil in the intake tract. I have a 5-year old silicone intercooler elbow next to me that was a factory part on Rob's '04 STi. It's all mushy inside from what little oil went through there. I'm not saying there's no such thing as oil-rated silicone line...they do make specially coated lines that can take oil, but all I've ever seen has been CRAZY expensive.

Also, "anti-smog/pcv line" is indeed made for a specific purpose...fuel line! Look on the side of a chunk of line at the parts store, it's printed right on the side.

It does work well for PCV and the like, but most places don't carry it in the larger sizes.

RJ93SS, are you actually saying your V/C breather hose is bulging after 6 months? That is something I have never seen unless the hose was full of (or covered in) oil the whole time. I normally use the black Gates heater hose for breather applications and don't see that happening.

RJ93SS · Post by **RJ93SS** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 5:27 pm

the hoses i used for my f pipe look ridiculous, i'll post before and after pics if i can

SLODRIVE · Post by **SLODRIVE** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 5:52 pm

Cool. I guess I should clarify that if there's a lot of oil running through it, heater hose won't last too long. Like I said, I have used it with success, but there wasn't really much if any actual liquid running through. My bad

ericem · Post by **ericem** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 3:12 am

Ya removed my hoses, they are nice and clean. DID cut them though lol, no way they would flex in any way. The valve covers seals basically crumpled into pieces. Going to get the price on the hoses. If they are alot more pricey then by the foot, ill just go to local parts source and get PCV hose if they have it, or heater hose as mentioned, didn't look to be any oil inside the lines, very dry and clean, just hard as a rock. Technically the one hose going to the intake could pose a vacuum leak I am thinking as well which might have been the reason for my slight flucuating idle? Can't wait till this whole overhaul of the coolant system, seals, belts are all done, and the car gets back on the road!!

RJ93SS · Post by **RJ93SS** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 7:33 pm

at least use tranny oil line, it will stand up better than heater hose

ScottyS · Post by **ScottyS** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 8:01 pm

When I replaced all that crap, I went down to NAPA and asked for a similar diameter fuel-rated line. The stuff they gave me was perfect, and a lot more flexible than the factory hoses.

Don't use heater hose, unless you want to be back replacing them in a few months.

ericem · Post by **ericem** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 6:54 pm

I like the idea of fuel line. Got my valve covers in, I lubed all the seals with motor oil not sure it was necessary? Tried to torque them as evenly as possibly, basically made all the bolts snug. Going to go today or tomorrow to get the tubes. It is alot cheaper that way and I need them for tomorrow, going to get the car back on the road.

Any ideas how important it is to replace the rad hoses? They are pretty soft but there was a bit of a crunch to them. I can not get ahold of the lower hose, but I can get the upper hose. In debate it is another $50 locally in hoses and only the upper one is in stock.

green91 · Post by **green91** » Sun Mar 15, 2009 1:50 am

I had to remake one of my PCV hoses using fuel line and a plastic t from home depot, worked out great!

Post by **Legacy777** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 6:37 pm

I used heater hose originally on my AWIC setup for the catch can. I will be going back and replacing them, as they are very soft and slimey.

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Damn hoses on the valve covers

Damn hoses on the valve covers