Need help/advice: installation of silicone radiator hose & burping

[charlesj]

Recently had the top radiator hose burst after I finally got her running after a 4-yr layaway. Purchased new silicone hoses from Sean Roe since he had best deal. Super fast shipping and even refunded me some for shipping cost. Thanks Sean!

Hoses seem to be great quality but my concern is that there is a real sharp finned metal thingie (see attached illustration) where the hose appears that it will rest on top of after it is installed. The OEM hose had a metallic braided shroud which protected it. I am concerned that the soft silicone hose will rub against this and eventually fail. Has anyone else installed these and had the same concern and if so, did you do anything preventative to protect it? Anybody have a problem with the silicone hose failing? Is it possible I am not installing properly?

Also, does anyone have the illustrated burping instructions? Yes, I have searched and reviewed all the burping threads out there. From what I gather, JonB had done a great burping illustration but it has apparently been lost or at least I can't find it anywhere. Also, most of the pictures in the old threads have been removed which is disappointing.

Any help from my viper brethren on either of the above issues would be most appreciated.

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[speedracervr4]

Pretty sure the hose will not rest on the power steering cooler(pictured). I burp the system with a lisle filter installed on the pressure bottle and I crack the small bleeder valve on the upper radiator hose. Squeezing the upper hose and multiple heat cycles will aid in the process. Make sure you have fluid in the overflow tank behind the fascia.

 

[Stuntman]

Shouldn't touch the sharp power steering cooler.

You could get the bleeder from Roe Racing which makes bleeding the system REALLY easy. http://www.roeracing.com/productcar...se-Bleeder-Kit-96-02-GTS-97-02-RT-10-p496.htm

 

[speedracervr4]

Sean use to install a bleeder in the actual silicone hoses so you may not need the bleeder listed above.

 

[charlesj]

Thanks fellas. I contemplated getting that bleeder kit with the hose but the thought of splicing it in to the existing tube was not appealing to me. Also, as I understand, this process of 'burping' the system works without the bleeder.

ANy other input from folks on silicone hoses or burping illustrations would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[charlesj]

Good grief Charlie Brown. What a blockhead! I share my experience for the benefit of any other viper owners out there that are inexperienced mechanically yet still try to work on their cars (I fear there are none but here it goes anyway)...


So I purchased the silicone hoses from Roe Racing... The kit comes with two hoses. I assumed the larger of the two hoses goes on the top of the radiator because that hose fits on quite easily and at first try, it seemed the smaller hose wouldn't fit at all (especially on the radiator end). In putting the large hose on though, I noticed that it sits uncomfortably close to the power steering cooling metal thingie. Something told me this just didn't seem right and thus the creation of this thread.

After getting a little advice here from my viper brethren (thanks fellas) and thinking it through, I decided to give the smaller hose a try. It seemed to be routed correctly and did not come close to the power steering cooling metal thingie but again, I couldn't get it on the radiator end at all. Not sure now about which hose goes where, I inspected the lower radiator hose on my car (should have done this first) and noticed that it is way bigger. This confirmed for me that the smaller hose does belong on the top. Some rudimentary instructions with the hoses would have been helpful and made this selection process idiot-proof.

Now back to my dilemma... I was able to get the smaller hose on the block but could not for the life of me get it on the radiator end. The inlet on the block has a nice smooth contour on the lip which allows you to work the silicone hose on. The inlet on the radiator however is barely contoured and also it is VERY thin and sharp. I lubricated the end of the silicone hose with a bit of oil to help things and also the inlet of the radiator. After about a serious half hour of failed attempts and burning forearms along with a bloody knuckle, I had to take a break. At this point I was so frustrated and also noticed that all that back and forth motion on the hose (no jokes here please), had started to chaff the end and was starting to cut into it. Now what?@!


After cleaning up the blood and grease and thinking things through, I got an idea...


I got one of those little hooked tools that you use to open paint cans. I then began as before with slipping the silicone hose on from the bottom so that the gap was at the top. I then proceeded to work the paint can opener tool in that gap to pull the lip over the inlet. With some working back and forth and the last ounce of elbow grease in my spent forearms and bloody knuckle, I was finally able to get it on!!!


Good grief! Now I am going through the process of filling her back up with coolant. Hopefully no more drama and I'll have her back on the road soon. I am filling at the top of the block and also will be filling with the little hose that is connected to where the radiator cap is. I believe that is correct. I have reviewed all burping threads out there and think I got it. Now I have to jack the car up. Wish me luck!

 

[AZTVR]

. The inlet on the radiator however is barely contoured and also it is VERY thin and sharp. I lubricated the end of the silicone hose with a bit of oil to help things and also the inlet of the radiator. After about a serious half hour of failed attempts and burning forearms along with a bloody knuckle, I had to take a break. At this point I was so frustrated and also noticed that all that back and forth motion on the hose (no jokes here please), had started to chaff the end and was starting to cut into it. Now what?@!

I got one of those little hooked tools that you use to open paint cans. I then began as before with slipping the silicone hose on from the bottom so that the gap was at the top. I then proceeded to work the paint can opener tool in that gap to pull the lip over the inlet. With some working back and forth and the last ounce of elbow grease in my spent forearms and bloody knuckle, I was finally able to get it on!!!
Now I have to jack the car up. Wish me luck!

I have read a similar thread about extreme difficulty in getting the upper silicone hose installed on the radiator end. That guy bought his hoses from a generic auto parts vendor; not one of the Viper specialists. Probably there is one manufacturer of the Viper hoses since it is such a small market and perhaps their tooling or manufacturing process is not optimum. I had no problem installing the silicone hoses on my 2002 GTS; however, that was 4 years ago. I would have suggested that you try boiling the end that goes on the radiator to soften it; but, it sounds like you got it on finally.

 

[Sybil TF]

I would have suggested that you try boiling the end that goes on the radiator to soften it; but, it sounds like you got it on finally.

Yep, makes it way way easy lol. I got the Roe hoses as well with the bleed valve on the upper hose. No way to make a mistake on where they go. Too bad you didn't use Evan's coolant..

 

[dave6666]

Drill holes in your thermostat. Makes refilling orders of magnitude easier.

 

[DaJerseyViper]

Spray WD40 inside the hose and on the radiator ****** and it will make install much easier, kinda like sex,you need some lubrication.. When the upper hose is on correctly, it will not touch the power steering cooler/little metal finned thingy. You can install the hose on backwards and it will kinda fit.

I drilled 4 1/8th inch holes in my thermostat for burping, but even before that, I would fill slowly , start the car, let the reservoir empty a bit and keep filling very slowly until the Thermostat opened. This would take several starting and cooling cycles, but I never had any air in the system doing this either.