Heater hose substitute

[Warwick (Ozcoupe)]

Please excuse if this is already known or if a standard replacement is readily available in the UK.

Engine outlet pipe to heater unit hose.
Rover Part No. 578079
The short 1/2" ID hook-shaped hose at the top end of the aluminium front/rear heater manifold that runs from the back of the inlet manifold to the heater inlet on the P5B.

An identical hose in virtually every respect is ...

1990 - '94 Nissan Patrol 4.2L 6-cyl. petrol (Carby)
Thermostat housing to engine.
Gates Part No. 02 - 0310

[johnwp5bcoupe]

I struggled to find a new one for mine Warwick so a usefull bit of information

[Warwick (Ozcoupe)]

I couldn't believe it John.

I went into Repco with that tangle of rubber hoses and aluminium tubes from the back of the engine to look for parts of other hoses that I could use, and I thought that one would be the most difficult.

I'm going to leave out the aluminium pieces altogether. I don't really need a rear seat heater. The old girl won't be doing any snow trips. So the aim is to use copper tube and bits of rubber hose to connect the main heater only. (I'm not throwing the old parts away though - all will be stored safely)

[johnwp5bcoupe]

No snow trips I know you are good at plumbing Warwick

[Deleted]

Warwick Caution mixing metals in cooling systems. From memory copper &ali. react
I would stick to ali. steel or stainless piping.
John M

[Deleted]

Copper would be no problem. It is what is used in the matrix after all. I just plugged the rubber with blanks.

[Warwick (Ozcoupe)]

There is copper (brass) in the radiator and heater as Humphrey says, but I always use a good inhibitor anyway.

[Phil Nottingham]

There is a terrible mixture of metals already - the mild steel heater pipe underneath the inlet manifold being a real surprise - this soon corrodes badly inside out out reducing flow and giving hidden coolant loss

[johnwp5bcoupe]

Im with Warwick on this one I am using the same stuff that goes in the central heating system it is fine with all materials there is a one specialy for cars but the "prescription" was more or less the same with the domestic one you get far more for less dosh

[Warwick (Ozcoupe)]

philnottingham said:

There is a terrible mixture of metals already - the mild steel heater pipe underneath the inlet manifold being a real surprise - this soon corrodes badly inside out out reducing flow and giving hidden coolant loss

Yes; discovered that when I was doing the engine on the old 2-door Rangie 20 years ago. I made up a copper replacement for that too. In fact, I'll be taking the inlet manifold off the P5 before too long to do this one as well.

The trouble is that steel is fine so long as the correct inhibitor is used, except where air sometimes is present such as on the outside between the rubber hose and the outer wall of the tubing.

This also makes it more and more difficult to get a seal between the hose and the tube; not to mention removing the hose.