Thread: Top radiator hose sliced by top engine cover

So mine was half slit. I’ve since replaced it and dremelled off about 10mm and it’s still touched (mark on hose) but no cutting. The engine clearly rocks enough under certain conditions to still touch.

That looks like a bit more clearance than originally on my cover. I’d still be modifying that to give it as much room as possible. I cut mine out to the corner, then finished it off with a die grinder, nice smooth finish, can’t hardly tell it’s been cut. Might still fit some protective hose around the edge, as per Scott’s LRD414 mod.

Just to give an update on this:-
My nearest dealer (Doncaster Land Rover) have agreed to replace the hose and modify my engine cover to provide better clearance, all under warranty. (My warranty expires next March.)

The technician who evaluated it did say that he had seen more hoses cut on the inside, i.e. the left hand side of the hose as you look at it from the front of the car, so it may be worth keeping an eye on both sides. I suspect that is what that bit of protective sleeving is intended for.

Apparently the part no. has been superseded too, and is backwards compatible. The part no. I have is LR118802

Cheers

David

Had mine in for it's 5 year service and mentioned this. Dealer said that there had been a bulletin out about this and the problem had been sorted. FWIW mine was ok but I've only got about 33000 kms on it so probably not as much engine movement as some.

Martin

Probably in short supply as I have been through 2 top hoses since July this year. Now has protection added. They are not cheap hoses either. There must be a fair bit of movement of the top cover on corrugations and blacktop vehicles may not be as susceptible.

Originally Posted by lrdef110

Probably in short supply as I have been through 2 top hoses since July this year. Now has protection added. They are not cheap hoses either. There must be a fair bit of movement of the top cover on corrugations and blacktop vehicles may not be as susceptible.

The top cover does not move independently. The engine moves but the radiator is fixed. The result is that the cover contacts the hose as the hose can’t move. You need enough cover clearance so as the engine moves and the hose flexes, there is enough gap so they don’t touch.

Originally Posted by letherm

Had mine in for it's 5 year service and mentioned this. Dealer said that there had been a bulletin out about this and the problem had been sorted. FWIW mine was ok but I've only got about 33000 kms on it so probably not as much engine movement as some.

Martin

Mine has less than 33,000 kms and had significant wear, you can just see the steel structural cables appearing in the old hose (see post 32). Would be interesting to see that bulletin, anyone here have access? I haven’t seen any damage of the new hose since I trimmed the cover and put protective rubber around the opening.

Originally Posted by DiscoJeffster

The top cover does not move independently. The engine moves but the radiator is fixed. The result is that the cover contacts the hose as the hose can’t move. You need enough cover clearance so as the engine moves and the hose flexes, there is enough gap so they don’t touch.

i think there’s even more to it than that.
I’m thinking that as the motor get hot the hose softens and swells when under pressure, and this, combined with the engine and cover moving in sync, particularly when revved a bit, causes the cover to abraid the hose. Try revving your motor (a good brisk rev to almost full revs) and you may see what I mean.

Here’s a photo of my new top hose and modified cover completed under warranty by the dealer today. I’m not sure I’m happy as even though they have trimmed the cover away, it is even closer on the right than the original hose was. Mine cut through at the right hand side of the hose a you look at the photo. They have allowed plenty of clearance to the left but that wasn’t a problem for me, although they did say they had seen that side cut as well. I’m going to watch it very closely. Also that reinforcing sleeve on my old hose was down the bottom of the hose nearest the engine, so there must be some sort of peristaltic movement.

BC450184-82F5-42DC-9B61-044E0FED9249.jpg

Cheers
David