Zmanco Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 I'm running some heater hose between my idle control valve and the intake manifold. Not surprisingly, the hose is beginning to collapse from the vacuum. It still flows more than enough when the engine is warm, but at cold start it's restricting things so I want to prop it open. I was thinking if I could find a coiled spring made of thin wire that I might be able to insert that into the hose. But so far I haven't found any sources for the spring. Anyone here have any suggestions for spring sources, or other ways to keep the hose from collapsing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hughdogz Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 Nice! Is that the BMW idle air controller that someone posted up last week? If you can't find reinforced hose, how about pressing in a short piece of hard tubing inside the hose (maybe the middle) where it is collapsing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobbyZ Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 If you put a hose clamp around the area where it is pinching it might keep it from collapsing all the way. Wouldn't be very pretty but i bet it would work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hey_Allen Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 Another option would be to put something around it that keeps it from deforming under vacuum. I seem to remember having seen a few hoses with a tightly wound spring around them, when it couldn't be on the inside for one reason or another. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobbyZ Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 Another option would be to put something around it that keeps it from deforming under vacuum. Hmmmm.... Like a hose clamp lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TONY C Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 a few zip ties would work. if you really want it fixed go down to the local hydrolic hose shop and get some reinforced high psi hose. couple bucks a ft but you don't need much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zmanco Posted December 7, 2007 Author Share Posted December 7, 2007 Thanks guys, those are some good ideas. I had thought about the hose clamp but dismissed it because I thought it would just collapse the hose further. But I'll start there - it's too simple not to. I got the valve on ebay from an old Audi 90. It's a bosch 3 wire ICV used on a lot of European cars - don't know if it's the same for BMW. I can look up the part number if anyone is interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zmanco Posted December 7, 2007 Author Share Posted December 7, 2007 Just added a few hose clamps and they look like they'll do the trick. Thanks! McGiver would be proud Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobbyZ Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 Woohoo! Glad it worked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evan Purple240zt Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 I had the same problem on my RB after my swap. I was able to get silicone heater hose from carquest auto parts. I put that on a couple years ago and it still has retained its shape nicely and is impervious to various chemicals. Its not cheap, but around 10 a foot or so. Reasonable enough. Evan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
savageskaterkid Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 Goto your local true value and in the auto section they have unicoils. Its a coiled spring with a backbone and will also keep the hose from kinking under a severe bend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naviathan Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 Usually when I'm looking for a bend I go browse the different heater hoses at NAPA or Advance and find one with the bend I'm looking for that I can just cut off any excess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hey_Allen Posted December 8, 2007 Share Posted December 8, 2007 Hmmmm.... Like a hose clamp lol Heh. Yeah, I noticed your reply just ahead of mine once the browser refreshed after I posted. Being at work meant I had to post and run. I've heard something about minds that think alike, but I wonder about the great part, considering at what level I'm usually working! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
proxlamus© Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 take a small spring.. about the same ID .. and twist it in like a screw.. it will hold its form .. but you mentioned that CarQuest/Napa also sells a spring that goes on the outside which is kinda cool.. and apparently it applies even pressure all around so it wont collapse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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