Technical Braided SS Radiator Hoses

Fishayyy

Specialist
Nov 3, 2016
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0
Southern California
Hello,

I've been having issues with random coolant spraying on my engine bay (likely from overfilling of the coolant system recently), but I was looking to get a new radiator soon and was wondering if it's possible to redo all the coolant lines with SS braided hoses if I went with a brand like CSF or Mishimoto since I don't want to have to worry about lines corroding and breaking like the brittle stock lines and I would like some increased cooling capacity. I'm also considering going with a Southwest Bimmers expansion tank or Radium engineering so I can relocate the tank to the right side of the engine bay.

Here's the RealOem outline of the coolant system. I couldn't find one specifically for manual transmission cars, but it states that this one is for DCT or Auto cars.
coolant.PNG
 

MDORPHN

Corporal
Jan 28, 2018
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Ride
BMW 1M
Radiator hoses last a long time and I don't see any reason to go ss braided.

Sounds to me like your system is overpressurized. Perhaps from overfilling as you suggest, but more likely either a hairline crack in the reservoir (reducing pressure and lowering the coolant's boiling point) or, less likely, a head gasket that is starting to let go.

Neil
 
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Fishayyy

Specialist
Nov 3, 2016
70
21
0
Southern California
The problem i see is all of the plastic quick disconnects
Radiator hoses last a long time and I don't see any reason to go ss braided.

Sounds to me like your system is overpressurized. Perhaps from overfilling as you suggest, but more likely either a hairline crack in the reservoir (reducing pressure and lowering the coolant's boiling point) or, less likely, a head gasket that is starting to let go.

Neil

I had to replace the thin one above the radiator fan recently because it cracked and leaked which is when I overfilled my resivoir. The SS lines are mostly just for looks and a little extra security, but I'm just seeing a lot of the quick connect lines that might be a problem. Head gasket should be good too because I just put on a nice billet valve cover. I think more than anything I definitely want to get rid of the plastic overflow tank and replace it with a billet one so I don't have any more leaks.

Talk to Anthony when he is doing your turbo kit.
I'll send him an email. I'm waiting for my paycheck next week then I'm putting in my order :)

It's still rubber under the SS sheathing ...

If you really want protection, https://www.techflex.com/heavy-duty/dura-flex

Thanks, hadn't heard of those but I'll give it a look!
 

MDORPHN

Corporal
Jan 28, 2018
196
162
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Ride
BMW 1M
"I had to replace the thin one above the radiator fan recently because it cracked and leaked which is when I overfilled my resivoir. The SS lines are mostly just for looks and a little extra security, but I'm just seeing a lot of the quick connect lines that might be a problem. Head gasket should be good too because I just put on a nice billet valve cover. I think more than anything I definitely want to get rid of the plastic overflow tank and replace it with a billet one so I don't have any more leaks."

I was referring to the head gasket, not the valve cover gasket.

Neil
 
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Fishayyy

Specialist
Nov 3, 2016
70
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Southern California
I was referring to the head gasket, not the valve cover gasket.

Neil
Oops, sorry misread that! Ya I don't think it's the head gasket just based on the trajectory of all the little coolant drops in my engine bay and also based on the fact that the floater in my expansion tank is still all the way at the top after loosing a good bit of coolant.
 
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Sshec152

Corporal
Nov 3, 2016
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Aston pa
You can buy a coolant pressure tester for cheap on amazon to easily find the source of the leaks. I do know black market parts sells a billet coolant flange to replace the factory plastic one that is prone to cracking but other than that to convert to stainless hoses youd need to convert the quick disconnects to AN which is no small feat due to almost everything being plastic.
 

Fishayyy

Specialist
Nov 3, 2016
70
21
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Southern California
So I know what the problem is, my cap is starting to disintegrate as well as the coolant level stick crumbled when I touched it and I kinda need to buy something in the meantime so I can drive my car without worrying about gunk getting in my coolant passage ways. I think I'm going to purchase the Radium engineering coolant expansion tank, but I need to figure out the hose ID for this hose here.
hose.png

I believe this segment isn't a quick connect, but I just need someone to verify and potentially let me know what the hose ID is so I can run a proper line to it. Considering SWBimmers has an expansion tank that should work with this it should be possible to remove that hose and use a clamp to secure a new hose. if all else fails I can see if I'm able to remove the hose without too much fuss and take it with me to an autozone.

Also does anyone know what the check valve in the cap is rated for? I've heard it's around 1.4bar(~20 psi), but I've also heard that's too much pressure for the stock plastic hoses. I need to pick between 1.3bar (18.9psi), and 1.5bar (~22psi). If I find a way to upgrade all the hoses I think 1.5 bar should be safe and add a little more pressure to the system to further raise the boiling point of the coolant. However, 1.3bar might be the better choice, correct?
 
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Payam@BMS

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Oct 27, 2016
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Leave it alone, we extend that for the coolant reservoir lol so it will be fixed. Stop wasting money.

Plus, IIRC ACF said he will build you an all in one coolant and power steering reservoir for you.
 

Fishayyy

Specialist
Nov 3, 2016
70
21
0
Southern California
Leave it alone, we extend that for the coolant reservoir lol so it will be fixed. Stop wasting money.

Plus, IIRC ACF said he will build you an all in one coolant and power steering reservoir for you.

Beautiful, all I did was re-buy a cheap stock reservoir since I couldn't drive my car without a new one to keep the coolant from spraying. But I promise I won't buy anything else until I see ACF lol
 
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Payam@BMS

Sergeant
Oct 27, 2016
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Beautiful, all I did was re-buy a cheap stock reservoir since I couldn't drive my car without a new one to keep the coolant from spraying. But I promise I won't buy anything else until I see ACF lol

LOL good, I just hate to see you waste money when your car will be checked all over by ACF. Plus, I have a few of those lines laying around if needed :)
 
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