How To Install A Silicone Hose Kit
Posted by Matthew Marks on 1st Aug 2024
Today, we will cover how to install a silicone hose kit, bleed the coolant, and the best methods for quickly getting up and running.
A few benefits to running a silicone radiator hose kit over the OEM rubber hoses include the fact that the rubber hoses become brittle over time and can easily split and the high resistance rating of silicone versus rubber.
We aren't going into massive detail in this guide as this is purely an installation guide, but if you head over to our silicone hoses: the superior choice for automotive article, we cover every advantage of running a silicone hose kit.
In this guide, we use our old Honda Civic D-Series engine as the base, but the installation process will apply to virtually any Honda or Japanese vehicle.
Before getting too far into the article, if you would rather watch our installation, check out the video below, and please subscribe to our YouTube channel for more installation guides!
So, let's get into which tools are needed to install your brand-new silicone hoses!
Tools Needed To Install A Silicone Hose Kit
You will need a few tools to install your new kit, including lifting the car into the air and other things to make the process easier and less messy.
Please go through the checklist below before starting to work on your car.
Tool List:
- A jack or ramp
- Axle stands
- Silicone hose kit
- Jubilee clips or worm drive clamps
- A Socket and ratchet or flathead screwdriver
- Fresh coolant
- A funnel
- A bucket or drain pan
Now you have gathered everything you need, let's move on to the good stuff!
1. Lift The Car Into The Air
Start by lifting the car into the air with either a jack or post ramp, ensuring to put axle stands underneath if you choose the jack option.
In this example, we used a ramp, so we made sure the ramp feet were in the perfect location all around, lifted the car into the air, and let the ramp down to the lock.
This process is much easier using a ramp as you can lift the car up and down when needed, but if you are using a jack, make sure the car is at the correct height to be able to work in the engine bay and have enough room underneath to drain the coolant.
2. Remove The Radiator Cap And Drain The Coolant
Start by ensuring the engine is cool to the touch to reduce the risk of injury. Once you have checked this, remove the radiator cap, which will help the coolant move out of the drain hole faster.
Go underneath the car, put a bucket underneath the drain and remove or loosen the plug until you get a solid coolant stream.
Wait for the entire system to drain before working on the car, as you will make much less mess!
Once the system has fully drained, move on to the next step. This will usually take a few minutes.
3. Remove The Old Rubber Hoses
Now that all of the coolant has been drained from the system, check through your new silicone hose kit to ensure you have the correct hoses. Match them to each hose in the engine bay so you know exactly which hoses to remove.
Start by removing the old clamps on either end of the hose you want to remove. These may be a little seized but should dislodge themselves if you remove them with a twisting motion.
The same applies to actually removing the hose from the water neck. Sometimes, they will become seized over time, so twist them to break the seal and remove the hose from the car.
4. Install The New Silicone Hoses
Now you have removed the old hose, put a jubilee or worm drive clamp on either end of the hose and install the hose back in the correct location.
Make sure to fully push the hose over the water neck into the same place the OEM hose was seated.
Tighten up the jubilee clamp or worm drive on either end of the hose, ensuring not to overtighten as this can split the silicone. Once you are happy they are tight, move to the rest of the hoses in the system and repeat this process.
5. Add Coolant And Bleed The System
Now that you have swapped out all of the coolant hoses for the silicone-reinforced counterparts, you will need to add coolant to the system.
First, ensure you have installed the drain bung to the bottom of the radiator; then, using the funnel, fill the system back up with the correct amount of coolant.
In the photo here, we reused the same coolant that was drained, but as it was changed around a week before we filmed the video, we didn't need to rebuy the coolant.
Let the car down off of the ramp or axle stands before starting it. Fill the system up to the correct level, and once you are happy and have checked for any leaks, go ahead and start the car.
You will want to warm up the car with the heater on maximum to ensure the valve is open and coolant is circulating the entire system.
When the car is idling correctly, and you are not getting any more bubbles out of the radiator, you can turn the car off and install the radiator cap. Be careful not to burn yourself on the hot radiator.
Check one more time for leaks. If everything is dry, you have just successfully installed your new silicone hose kit!
If you are having temperature issues after driving the car for a while, then you have more than likely not bled the cooling system correctly. Repeat all the bleeding process steps until you have the perfect idle and the temperature gauge shows normal operating temperature when driving.
Products Used In This Guide
We have used a few of the products that we sell in this guide, so if you need Genuine Honda coolant or an Exoracing silicone hose kit, then please hit the links below as this helps us massively and funds our ability to make more guides like this!
Exoracing Honda D-Series silicone hose kit
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How do I clean the new silicone hoses?
A. You can use virtually any cleaner, such as engine bay degreaser or glass cleaner, to clean silicone. Due to their properties, silicone hoses age much better than rubber hoses, so if they are incredibly dirty, clean them with a cloth and cleaning spray, and they will look brand new again.
Q. Why should I use silicone over OEM rubber hoses?
A. We have written an entire article on why silicone is better than OEM rubber hoses, which you can find here, but in short, our silicone hoses are rated from -65°C to 260°C, have an incredibly high burst pressure of 245 PSI, are resistant to UV, have a 4-ply construction and have anti-ageing properties. These are just a few benefits that silicone has over traditional rubber.
Q. Do I have to use Genuine Honda coolant?
A. We always recommend using Genuine Honda coolant, as the system was designed for this coolant. Plus, there are not many situations where there is a better coolant for a Honda engine. If you are installing a silicone hose kit on any other car, then we would recommend using the correct coolant for your car.
Conclusion
You should now know how to install silicone coolant hoses without problems! If you liked this article, then please comment below, as we would love to hear what projects you are currently working on; if you click any of the product links in this guide, then use our specific article code for a discount on your order:
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If you are still struggling with anything in this article, please get in touch. We would be happy to assist!
Interested in our other installation guides or related articles? Then head over here: