Different gases and fluids need to move from one part to another to make a car run. To guide these essential substances to the right place, an automotive hose is used to connect one car part to another. From fuel, coolant, oxygen, and many more, all of them require a hose to pass and reach the part where they are needed. Since different substances have varying properties, each of them needs a different type of hose. Read along to know more about the different kinds of automotive hose and how they differ from one another.

Radiator Hose

The radiator hose is probably the largest hose in a car. This type of hose carry coolant from the engine. The coolant takes away heat from the engine and takes it to the radiator to cool the fluid down quickly. A radiator hose is an important part of an engine’s cooling system. Since it carries fluid with high temperature and pressure, radiator hoses should always be made from very strong and durable material. In every car, there will be 2 radiator hoses together with other smaller hoses that goes around the car’s engine to cool it.

Fuel Hose

Unlike other automotive hoses, there are some that are made to handle more corrosive material such as fuel. With this, you’ll need a hose made from special material that could withstand regular contact with corrosive substances.

Fuel hoses are made from special rubber that doesn’t break down easily with fuel. However, fuel hoses aren’t common in newer models of cars because of the distance of the fuel tank from the engine compartment. Aside from that, fuel injected cars have highly pressurized fuel system which doesn’t work well with a rubber fuel hose. Metal tubing are commonly used these days for this purpose.

Air Intake Hose

The air intake hose carry air to the engine to supply the adequate amount of oxygen needed for efficient combustion of the fuel. This type of hose may be a lot different from other hoses in your car. However, it needs a hose clamp which is a special accessory used to attach a hose securely into a metal fitting. It needs to be fitted properly to ensure a properly balanced air and fuel ratio in your car’s combustion chamber.

Heater Hose

On colder seasons, your car needs to have a properly functioning heating system to keep you and the passengers warm during the ride. Since a radiator hose can’t take away all the heat inside the engine, your vehicle uses this excess heat to warm the inside of your car. This excess heat goes into the heater core through the heater hose. The heater fan blows on the smaller tubes in the heater core which sends the warm air inside the vehicle through the heating vents.

Hoses play a huge part in the proper functioning of your vehicle. Since they could get damaged with regular wear and tear through time, it is important that you perform scheduled inspections to detect crack or leaks and fix them immediately.