Fuel line as coolant hose

[Laneman950]

I have a 5/16 i.d. hose going from the bottom of the radiator to the drain. Tried finding coolant hose and nobody had it, including the John Deere dealer. They said it is ok to use their bulk fuel line hose. Just want to run this buy you guys for comment. My concern is pressure bursting the line or antifreeze eating through it. The hose is thicker walled then what's on there now, but it also says do not use for fuel injection, probably because it can't handle pressure.

 

[Partsman2]

I'm surprised there isn't a petcock valve between that hose and the radiator. If so I wouldn't be concerned but if not my concern would be cemical compatibility and the coolant eating through the hose as you mentioned.

I would think a traditonal parts store would have that hose. You might consider adding a petcock valve where the hose fitting screws into the radiator too if it doesn't have one now.

partsman

 

[TheKid]

Check the hose at the parts store. If it has a SAE 30R7 rating marked on it then it will work. 30R7 can be used with petroleum-based oil, fuel oil, gasoline, diesel fuel, grease, coolants, and antifreeze. It's good to 257° F, and 5/16 is good to 300 psi.

I'm really not that smart, I looked it up at McMaster-Carr.com

 

[Ford850]

Antifreeze shouldn't hurt the rubber hose since they also fill tires/tubes with antifreeze for ballast.

 

[Grrrr]

I'm pretty sure the antifreeze hose would be fine. As the last poster said they put it in tyres and I doubt the antifreeze will be any harder on it than diesel.

 

[Laneman950]

I went ahead and bought coolant hose to play it safe. It was $9 for some peace of mind. I was also concerned with the pressure of a coolant system. The hose said it can't be used for fuel injection which must mean it can't handle pressure.