My Touring 1916 (original brass radiator) was out for repair. The repair company found out that the upper hose connector was very badly soldered and so they also fixed that hereby. After re-installation I drove some times and never saw water under my T. Now temperature in my garage decreased from 20°C -> 10°C, and I suddenly see a little pit below engine front end.
Searching for the leakage, I quickly found out that the gap between upper hose and radiator neck was full of water. I already use stainless steel clamps to have more pressure on the hose ends, so I tightened the upper one a bit more. One week later the same. A little bit of water below the car. But the brass radiator neck is dry!
To find out if the water comes from between hose and neck or if it is trickling along the neck down from the radiator, I took a piece of toilet paper and insulating tape, and attached it to the underside of the neck, 1/2" above the hose. If water comes from the radiator, it cannot get into the gap but will trickle down the paper. This will remain visible on the paper, even when it dries.
From technical view, this hose is a little bit sub-optimal. It is extremely short and thick, so when the car is flexing around its length axis, the hose will permanently pull on the neck. Also the neck has no really smooth surface.
- Can the force caused and applied by the hose hurt the radiator's neck?
- Does somebody know an alternative hose, optically matching but having little folds for allowing free movement between engine and radiator? Like the hoses used inside washing machines between pump and kettle, but with smaller zig-zag. I think it is better to use such hose and protect the radiator hereby.
- Shall I use some black sealing paste (as used for sealing the oil pan and hogshead) between hose and radiator neck?
Rainer