GulfSeven Posted December 28, 2023 Share Posted December 28, 2023 I noticed a drop of coolant under my car since taking it off the road this year. It dripped from the bottom (large) hose going to the radiator. There were quite a few tiny beads of coolant on it in various places, so I cleaned them off, tightened the top hose to the expansion bottle (which was directly above) and left it. A day later, there's no drip on the floor, but again a few tiny beads of coolant in various places on the hose. I've now moved the expansion bottle to one side to rule that out, but there's nothing leaking from it. Could the bottom hose going to the radiator have gone porous and developed pinholes in it? It's a 2020 car... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadsport06 Posted December 28, 2023 Share Posted December 28, 2023 That was an issue in my car. It only really revealed itself when I had the car running so there was pressure in the system. It was a pin hole, the hoses weren't old but weren't in a good way, cracking all over the place. I decided to swap to silicone for all hoses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GulfSeven Posted December 28, 2023 Author Share Posted December 28, 2023 Is there a silicone hose kit for a 310R? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted December 28, 2023 Member Share Posted December 28, 2023 There are three trusted suppliers of silicone hoses: Samco, SFS, and Classic Silicone Hoses. NB Club discounts. Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GulfSeven Posted December 28, 2023 Author Share Posted December 28, 2023 Thanks Jonathan. I don't see any hoses for sigma cars though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted December 28, 2023 Member Share Posted December 28, 2023 6 minutes ago, GulfSeven said: I don't see any hoses for sigma cars though. It would be great if you could ask them all and share the answers. : - ) (I chose Classic Silicone Hoses for my K because they answered my emails quickly and helpfully.) Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graearea Posted December 28, 2023 Share Posted December 28, 2023 I'm fairly sure my rad is full of pinholes. it leaks.... slowly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GulfSeven Posted December 29, 2023 Author Share Posted December 29, 2023 Does this imply that the Sigma and Duratec bottom hose is identical? https://caterhamparts.co.uk/hoses/7487-bottom-rad-hose-sigma-06.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Geoff Brown Posted December 29, 2023 Area Representative Share Posted December 29, 2023 56 minutes ago, GulfSeven said: Does this imply that the Sigma and Duratec bottom hose is identical? https://caterhamparts.co.uk/hoses/7487-bottom-rad-hose-sigma-06.html Yes, according to the picture in my Build Manual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GulfSeven Posted December 30, 2023 Author Share Posted December 30, 2023 Conclusive proof that the hose is porous: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevehS3 Posted December 30, 2023 Share Posted December 30, 2023 If it helps my factory built 310R came with Caterham branded silicone hoses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GulfSeven Posted December 30, 2023 Author Share Posted December 30, 2023 (edited) Hmmm. That hose is branded Caterham Motorsport in white... so perhaps it's already silicone? Edited December 30, 2023 by GulfSeven Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevehS3 Posted December 30, 2023 Share Posted December 30, 2023 My first thoughts were that the hose in the photo is silicone. I bought silicone hoses for my last 7 and it included a note about OAT coolant damaging the hoses. I know it has been debated thoroughly before but I think Bluecol is a better bet for the Sigma. Premier Power changed my from OAT to blue. The only downside that I am aware of is it needs changing every 2 years which I am more than happy to do as it is cheap and keeps the cooling system fresh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GulfSeven Posted December 30, 2023 Author Share Posted December 30, 2023 It's going for MOT and service as soon as it's back on the road in the spring anyway so I'll ask Williams what they recommend and get it sorted at the same time. They run their own race team too so should be able to advise. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevehS3 Posted December 30, 2023 Share Posted December 30, 2023 Williams might want to keep to CC’s factory standard but either way please let us know their opinion. 👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GulfSeven Posted December 30, 2023 Author Share Posted December 30, 2023 (edited) On 30/12/2023 at 11:15, StevehS3 said: Williams might want to keep to CC’s factory standard but either way please let us know their opinion. 👍 They might, but they recommended changing the LSD oil to RRT last year which is what they use on their race cars so maybe not. Edited January 1 by GulfSeven Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GulfSeven Posted March 7 Author Share Posted March 7 I had the service done today, and as the coolant was being drained anyway I had the hose replaced with the OEM Caterham part I linked above. I totally forgot to ask about coolant type, so it's back full of factory-standard OAT. The new hose has a Caterham-branded matte wrap. Perhaps the original Caterham Motorsport one isn't available anymore? I certainly can't find any alternatives to the new one on the Caterham parts website. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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