Oil Sump Suction Line...

Mitch Leland · Mitch Leland's Garage

Howdy,

My engine is out and I'm replacing some wear parts as needed. I want to replace the rubber oil suction line from the sump tank to the oil cooler. I looked up some previous threads which discussed a finned hard line, but no conclusions. I was wondering if anyone has used a braided S. S. line w/ a teflon lining that "Earl's" sells? Would the S.S. braided jacket reduce the heat transfer?

Thanks,

KTL · 10-10-2007, 10:38 AM

I think it would increase the heat transfer, with the braid acting as the heat sink.

Sounds like an expensive venture considering all the fittings and brazing you'd have to do. Would definitely look purposeful/racy. Why not just get a standard replacement rubber S-hose and be done with it?

Mitch Leland · Mitch Leland's Garage

Kevin,

Earl's hoses and AN hardware has S.S. braided hoses that you use hose clamps so there's no need for expensive fittings. I always thought an old rubber hose down under the car seems vulnerable to road hazards. Plus the S.S. braided line would look appropriate for a fine German car. Just thinking out loud to see if anyone else has run something different than the stock hose. Maybe I have too much time on my hands...

KTL · 10-10-2007, 02:05 PM

I thought you might be thinking of the type of hose that uses clamps instead of threaded cutting fittings. But I guess the question is, how would you make the sharp bends? I guess you could use a 90 deg. male coupler bend for each end, and use a short length of hose to make the connection from each coupler to the oil cooler and oil tank male connections?

I think you'll notice that the S-hose becomes quite hard with age. So it's not as vulnerable as you might think. Nonetheless I like your idea.

By the way, have you ever seen the suction "hose" that B&B supplies with their header systems?

cfc · 10-10-2007, 02:45 PM

I agree with the comment about the rubber hose looking vunerable to cuts and such. However the older RSR 1973 uses the rubber hose, and in 40 years of having Porsches I never saw one fail. Also remember the 2 Liter 911 from 1966, and 1967, probably 1964, 1965, and 1968 also, the factory used an oil cooler with a threaded end, and the oil tank was threaded also and they used an araquip type hose with a right angle fitting on each end. I believe in1969 they changed to the rubber hose.
I may have one of those older setups, and I also have a cooler with a large AN fitting welded to it.

Mitch Leland · Mitch Leland's Garage

Kevin and Mike,

I hadn't thought about the 90 degree bends that are necessary on each end of the hose. I think you would defeat the purpose of improving on the rubber hose by having to use elbows and additional clamps.

If you had nothing better to do you could have a rigid pipe bent up. Looks like B&B used straight pipe and welded it up rather than deal with difficult bends.

All of this came to mind as I was going to replace the hose while I had the engine out. Probably go back with the rubber hose until I figure something out.

Years ago I use to live in So. Cal and there were craftsman of every kind who could do things like this, but here in the Hill Country of Texas we don't have that same expertise, unless it's restoring a John Deere tractor.

Thanks,