Re: Exhaust hose advice
Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2017 3:08 pm
Running without mufflers will probably get you a stern warning from your marina and a lot of unappreciative looks from your marina neighbors. I remember asking about the use of muffler expansion tools, but the knowledgeable folks on the site said No Way. The hose's body makeup is such that stretching it with a muffler expansion tool (to the point where it won't revert back to its original size before you have a chance to put it on the metal pipes) would tear the material the hose is made up of. At that point the hose is compromised and you'd likely have a bulging spot where the fibers have been broken. You're right on the use of warm/hot water to soften - it won't. The water coursing through the hose is 100 deg + (most raw water engines use a 140 deg thermostat so the exhaust water's in that neighborhood).
Your best bet, if you can't find hose that's a tad (1/8") bigger as Jeff suggests, is to get the correct size, lube it up well (as well as the pipe it'll fit over) with dish soap and push it onto the pipe until it's in place.
One thing, I wonder about the use of corrugated hose. The interior of the exhaust hose is smooth to allow for the unrestricted flow of water as well as (in most cases) the complete drainage of water when the engine's shut down. Corrugated interior hose would allow water to settle in the low spots of the hose, allowing any sediments to settle there. Additionally, and I can't swear to this as I've not heard of it actually occurring, but those low spots could become a living spot for zebra mussels. True, the exhaust water coming from the engines should kill them, but if you're not at the boat on a frequent basis, they'd have a chance to "set up shop". Even if they were killed/cooked when you next ran the boat, their remains would be stuck in the hose's interior. They're tough lil buggers and you could end up with a significant buildup over time that could affect coolant flow.
Bill
Your best bet, if you can't find hose that's a tad (1/8") bigger as Jeff suggests, is to get the correct size, lube it up well (as well as the pipe it'll fit over) with dish soap and push it onto the pipe until it's in place.
One thing, I wonder about the use of corrugated hose. The interior of the exhaust hose is smooth to allow for the unrestricted flow of water as well as (in most cases) the complete drainage of water when the engine's shut down. Corrugated interior hose would allow water to settle in the low spots of the hose, allowing any sediments to settle there. Additionally, and I can't swear to this as I've not heard of it actually occurring, but those low spots could become a living spot for zebra mussels. True, the exhaust water coming from the engines should kill them, but if you're not at the boat on a frequent basis, they'd have a chance to "set up shop". Even if they were killed/cooked when you next ran the boat, their remains would be stuck in the hose's interior. They're tough lil buggers and you could end up with a significant buildup over time that could affect coolant flow.
Bill