Thread: Guinea pig?

Arthur, mixing different types of coolant can create a jelly like substance. Possibly a previous owner changed coolant types and didn't flush fully.

Originally Posted by AK83

And that was really my point.
Spring clips just make it quicker and easier to install assemblies that require clamps. Whether that equates to unit cost of the clamp, or the time taken to install the clamps that's a cost saving.






I think of them like the modern plastic/aluminium radiator. For nearly 100 years brass/copper combos were used to great effect and usually lasted a very long time ... etc. But suddenly manufacturers started to switch to plastic crimped alloy core units.
Are these better because they suddenly became the default?
Copper rads are heavier, costlier and probably prone to some other issue or whatever, so manufacturers saved tons of money with the switch.

PF may or may not be the most scientific youtuber out there, but the purpose of that link was to show that three clamps failed with low scores in his test, the anomaly being that the clamp size was too large for the hose, but the constant tension clamps still did so much better in that marginal situation than the spring clamp.



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OK, it all makes sense, Arthur. But 15 psi, or whatever that is in Newspeak, ain't much. If the rad hoses pop off you probably have a head gasket sized fish to fry. Cost of course is a big issue. The difference may be 5¢ a unit, but multiply that by the number of clamps per vehicle times the number of vehicles, well you get where I'm going. But the factory probably had robots to tighten, or at least torque limited power tools. The gorilla at ultratune does not. And the cars are up to 25 years old, and people will have changed the clamps at some point, and the quality of Jungle Store clamps is, well, about as good as their fuses and crimp connectors.

The radiator thing is totally different. For decades, manufacturers have had to deal with more and more onerous regs regarding emissions and consumption. Alloy rads were introduced to cut costs, sure, ( The price of copper is eyewatering ) but the main reasons were weight, as that effects consumption, and thermal transfer. Alloy can be made thinner, and the plastic tanks are also lighter, but the main thing is fast warm up, vital to meet emissions goals. Same reason we're lumbered with that expensive thermostat, I guess.

You mention the turbo hose clamps... Funny, but they are the only ones that look like cutting through the hoses, and I have owned my car for 16 years and this is the first time I've changed the hoses. slack, I know. It's possible the shop that did the HG under warranty changed them, but that was, well, 16 years ago, as it blew in the first month of my ownership ( stupid plastic dowells, and an auspicious start to my LR ownership..... ).

But hey, whatever works. I like the spring clamps, but as mentioned before, I hate the tool I have to open them. $60 of bloody minded garbage. Sure, it does the job, but amid much swearing. I wonder if Milwaukee make one...., no, on second thoughts, I couldn't afford it if they did.

Originally Posted by Tins

..... I like the spring clamps, but as mentioned before, I hate the tool I have to open them. $60 of bloody minded garbage. Sure, it does the job, but amid much swearing. I wonder if Milwaukee make one...., no, on second thoughts, I couldn't afford it if they did.

What tool U using.

I've gotten over the hate of spring clamps since I bought the flexi/remote contraption(off ebay for less than $20). I think LRTime have used it too to get to the hard to get at clamps, where the plier like tool can't get too.

Is it a ratcheting clickety type that hold the clamp open while you maneuver it around?

Originally Posted by AK83

Is it a ratcheting clickety type that hold the clamp open while you maneuver it around?

Yes, but you need three hands to use it... It works.....

One thing though, due to the slight increase in wall thickness of the new hoses it is very difficult to open the smaller clamps up enough to get them over the barbs, bearing in mind that the surgery has compromised me a little

I said that it’s been a long time since I fell for a scam. Well. I took a risk on another one. It was really sus, but for $50 I figured an iPhone 16 was worth the risk. Hmm, I got a dodgy looking email from the Jungle company, err, allegedly. Ok, probably a scam. But now I have a tracking number with China Post and my package is at the airport in China. If it actually arrives I’ll let you know what’s in it. I’m tipping it won’t be an iPhone.

I used to be from the school that would ditch the spring loaded clamps. I did this mainly for ease of refitting and then making the job easier next time.

I have now switched to the spring clamps, even though they are a pain in the bottom for difficult ones.

My reason for changing was this. After a lot of research due to constant tension.

Mind you, if not for this ripper little tool I have, I might still be using worm drives.

It would be 13 years since I changed and I have never had a leak.

In a previous life when cars were simpler, I used to swing the spanners for a living. When a car was in for a service I would run a screw driver over all the hose clamps
and not uncommon to get a quarter turn on the clamp.

I would some times get a complaint from customer that they were loosing coolant. Pressure test the system and often it was a leaking hose clamp

I will post a picture of the tool at a later date. It is in the back of my car which has the Tvan attached for an early morning departure.

Originally Posted by AK83

Each to their own, but I've never seen testing to confirm this proposition.

And if they ever start using spring clamps to locate and seal hydraulic and/or pneumatic hose fittings, then I'll switch to same line of thinking for coolant hoses too.
And the reality is that the only reason manufacturers switched to spring clamps is cost. Quicker to fit them, and don't need a specialist tool to get the tension spot on.
They certainly do not clamp better.

Yet my local hydraulic supplier recommends them for cooling systems. For hydraulic they will only warrant crimps. They don't recommend worm drives for pretty much anything other than "one size fits all, not critical and if it breaks you get to keep both pieces".

Originally Posted by AK83

I like Projectfarm's testing

Whereas I think he's a bit of a twonk with no concept of scientific method. The video you linked is irrelevant (This Chinese hose clamp held 750 PSI and weighed 52 grams) when it's designed to be on a cooling system with a 16psi relief valve. No "we tested this through 500 thermal cycles to 7.5psi" which is what a vehicle actually experiences. What is the point of testing to breaking point when you're never going to get close to it?. For pneumatic fittings, I use oetiker clamps. Same spring, 360 degree clamping force and no need for double clamps. Hydraulic fittings I use crimps and pay someone who has the right tools and experience to do them correctly. I do use (double) worm drives on the seacocks in the boat, but then they kinda swing between 19-21C over the year.

One of the first comments on that youtube video :

Great video but you missed one very important test. Temperature. This is why the constant tension clamps reign supreme in many applications, due their ability to adjust to changes in temperature like heater hoses that with temps that vary widely & constant tension clamps adjust on their own always keeping constant tension. For cold, static applications your tests are fine but you are missing a big reason every auto manufacturer switched to the more expensive but better constant tension style clamp.

My D3 uses a worm drive clamp on the air intake hose and boost hoses. My wifes VW uses spring clamps. Who's right? You do you.

Originally Posted by Tins

I said that it’s been a long time since I fell for a scam. Well. I took a risk on another one. It was really sus, but for $50 I figured an iPhone 16 was worth the risk. Hmm, I got a dodgy looking email from the Jungle company, err, allegedly. Ok, probably a scam. But now I have a tracking number with China Post and my package is at the airport in China. If it actually arrives I’ll let you know what’s in it. I’m tipping it won’t be an iPhone.

Screenshot 2025-11-16 at 4.07.26?pm.jpg
Pretty elaborate scam...