That's right. Got some blue 4mm from Baker precision last year for my TC solenoid under the UIM. They sucked. Heat damaged and crinkled and no longer flexible. Compared to Purosil hoses I got six years ago from Options.com (no longer available) the purosil lines are perfectly flexible without signs of heat damage.

In my opinion, I don't think the Baker hoses are that much better than that "silicone" crap you get from Pep Boys.

I'm going to give Hose Techniques a try. Anyone has any experience with Hose Technieques vs Baker?

 

My Baker hose has been on two years and most of it even survived an engine fire. The only ones toast were the ones directly in the flame. I bought some additional hose to replace what the fire got and it was the same.

Suppliers different maybe?

 

Hose techniques hoses are awesome.Theyre hard to kink and are about the best stuff you can buy.If you dont believe me call up brandon at www.rx7trix.com.He told me that all the j spec cars including the new rx 8 use the hose techniques silicone lines.Obviously they must be worth a damn.Plus i bought the kit for my car for only $130.It came with everything I needed to do the job.Plus the people there are pretty cool.Customer service goes a long way.Good luck.

 

Maybe I am an ignorant fool but why does the RX-8 need silicone vac hoses? I thought it was an NA

I really don't have enough time with the hose techniques to vough for their durability in the long run (only had them about 6 months) but they do work well and not real easy to kink...Well, unless you just have too much or too little hose for a particular spot.

 

Be careful spreading false rumors. Hose techniques DOES NOT produce the silicone lines for the RX-8 (as an OEM part) NOR are they currently producing their own silicone hose kit for the RX-8. They don't have an RX-8 at the moment. They may offer the kit in the future, but as of right now, they DO NOT make any silicone lines for the RX-8 at all.

Want to know how I found out? I spoke w/ them.

Some information must have gotten lost in the translation or maybe you've just been told lies. OEMs (traditionally speaking) do not typically offer silicone hoses. They usually favor rubber. It is quite possible that the RX-8 will have silicone hoses, but I have yet to hear about this. And maybe in the mist of your conversation, Hose Techniques are mentioned and that may be how you came to the conclusion that Hose Techniques offers silicone lines...

 

All cars need vacuum lines for one reason or another, NA or turbo. Ever looked under the hood of any other car other than a FD? All RX7s have the same solenoids found in the FDs rats nest. The FD just has more, and they get hotter.

 

To be honest, I only became intested with under the hood when I bought the FD...so really haven't spent much time with piston or rotary NAs or turbo other than the occasional oil change. the FD has changed my life.

 

That sounds exactly like an infomercial.

Mazda's new marketing slogan:

"It is more than a car...it is...therapy!"

 

I had my rats nest done by RR&R here in Santa Ana. Supposedly they buy from Madtatrix which buys from Baker. But these hoses were way too thin! I think they just bought one of those 30' spools for $30 from a ricer website. I've only used the Baker hose for the turbo water lines and it worked excellent. It was "very" thick! I was told it was just regular silicone even though on their website it lists it as Purosil, so I think you have to specifical request Purosil or you get regular ...can anyone verify that? I've seen the Purosil on Loi's car and it's light blue and has Purosil engraved or stamped along the sides of it.

I replaced the home depot boost controler RR&R made me with on that MJW made for me from HoseTechniques and it's held up excellent. It doesn't fall apart every few days like the other one! It's still thick and hasn't gotten mushy from heat and oil. Personaly I recomend heat coating the lower and upper manifolds to protect the hoses and wiring from heat.

 

Hose Techniques is BARELY adequate, and if you buy the
"kit" for $130.00 you have been butt fucked solidly for the same thing you could have bought for $40.00 by the foot. You still need astro glide.

90% of the aftermarket silicone hose out there is RICER CRAP.

For $56.00 you can buy 25 feet of DuroBlu tubing - it's an FAA Certified Mil Spec tubing and is flat out the best stuff you can buy anywhere. It will not kink, and it's highly elastic so it grips the different size nipple fittings WITHOUT adhesive or nylon wire ties.

You can buy it here - and no, I don't have ANY business
connection with them: http://rxforyour7.com/Rotary%20Parts.htm#Part

 

The kits are convienient and come with tie raps but what people don't realize is even though the silicone can handle the high temps, the zip ties can't.

Thanks RonK for posting the info on the FAA aproved stuff. I looked into airplane lines for my coolant hoses.

 

C'mon Ron...show us a pic of the hose...I still want to get a feel for the color (we all know that color is the most important factor to consider, lol)

 

It's um, well kind of....."Duro" blue.

*hic* (beer number 4)

 

Yep, you can pretty much slap it on and fuggehdaboudit it if you use mil spec stuff. Your tax dollars have already provided all the testing you'll ever need or want to make sure it lasts for a while, in just about any application.

Sometimes it's a little difficult to find in small quantities, but the search is worth it!

 

damn... if Baker's silcone hose isn't any good... I guess I'm fucked... I just did the rat's nest with their stuff just a month ago. oh well... I guess I'll just have to wait and see...

 

well, I did my car with hose from baker precision and its pretty badass hose. It has thick walls, and I pretty much have to completely fold the hose and pinch if for it to kink (I tested this with a vacumn pump when I was bored). It hasn't been in my engine bay long; I drive my car daily and its holding up fine so far.

 

Pettit racing recomended goodyear rubber hose. That's what I used when I redid my vacuum lines and haven't had any hose related problems to speak of.

 

Goodyear and Gates both make great vacuum hose, and it's really inexpensive as well.

Good ol' American know how.