Morris Minor Owners Club

I fitted a new kelvar reinforced bottom radiator hose 3,500 miles ago to my minor supplied by a well known trader. Last night I drove the car about 4 miles and parked it in a tarmac car park when it was still daylight. When I was walking away from the car, for some reason I turned round and spotted a drip on the ground. Went to look at it a bit closer to find a puddle by this stage and engine bay sprayed with coolant. Lucky I noticed it then because I returned to the car in darkness and I wouldn't have noticed then. I thought it would have lasted longer than it has. So much for being reinforced and recommended.

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Kevlar may be great for bullet proof vests, but cotton string or whatever is used in normal hoses actually works a lot better.
I think the rubber soaks into it a bit and really binds the whole thing together.

Regretfully the supply of kevlar hoses leaves a LOT to be desired. The older hoses lasted 10+ years without problems, the new ones are, in my experience, pretty useless. I've invested in a set of silicone hoses and will report back on how well they last after a couple of years.

The last Kevlar hose I fitted (or should that be tried to fit) broke before I'd even got it on. The heater spur came away while I was attempting to get the hose onto the water pump. I use rubber hoses now.

Far better using Samco hoses last forever