96 850 lower radiator hose, one end smaller?

Post by **JimBee** » 26 Jun 2014, 19:43

A while ago, I purchased an "OEM quality" lower radiator hose from NAPA. I was told their brand was made by Gates to spec. Today, I was all set to install it, when I discovered the engine end is noticeably smaller than the radiator end—and visibly smaller at the engine end than the hose I removed. End to end, the contours are an exact match.
Should both ends be the same? Was the original smaller and stretched to fit? Am I somehow supposed to stretch the engine end to fit the nipple?

Post by **abscate** » 26 Jun 2014, 19:47

How much smaller is it? If it's less than 10 percent of hose diameter I would stretch it.

Post by **cn90** » 26 Jun 2014, 19:57

Get a caliper and measure the engine port and radiator port.

Post by **JimBee** » 26 Jun 2014, 20:29

I have a caliper, I'll measure it tomorrow. Shouldn't the Od and ID match, like they do at the radiator end and like every hose I've ever seen!?
This is strange. There's actually noticeably more rubber around about 180 degrees of the interior of hose end, making it visibly thicker there, than the opposite 180.

Post by **JimBee** » 28 Jun 2014, 08:25

The vendor agreed that the one end was malformed and swapped it.

Post by **abscate** » 28 Jun 2014, 13:53

Nice and good on the vendor - was that NAPA?

Post by **JimBee** » 28 Jun 2014, 18:06

abscate: it was NAPA. The hose he gave me looks correctly formed, but it's not rubber; well it looks shiny, is a harder substance than the conventional rubber hose, and is kind of ribbed along the length. I'm debating whether to use it.