Anyone ordering silicon hoses?

[Steve (sdh2903)]

Just a word of caution I've used ASH hoses on numerous occasions for all my silicon hose requirements. However after a recent large order arrived I don't think I'll be using them again. Having just spoke to a guy on the phone it seems as though they are having supplier issues so are buying in whatever they can from various suppliers and quality is suffering.

I've had hoses turn up all different colours (shades of grey and dark blue) when all are supposed to be black. 90 degree bends which are no where near 90 degrees. Alloy hose joiners cut nowhere near square and left with ragged edges. 19mm alloy pipe unbeaded as they cannot bead 19mm any more despite the item still being advertised for sale.

And it took 12 days to arrive and 3 parts are still Awol.

Sad as they've always been spot on for me.

[Tim.McKeegan]

I had exactly the same issue a couple of weeks ago and ended up using viper. More expensive but great quality.

[TAFKARM]

Hopefully just a temporary blip, i've also found them to be excellent in the past. 

[6carjon]

If anyone is using oat pink coolant in your engines check your silicon hoses are compliant. Samco are and viper have a compatible range which are green according to their website at extra cost. Not sure on ash it's worth asking. Oat is mainly for alloy engines.

[Thrustyjust]

If anyone is using oat pink coolant in your engines check your silicon hoses are compliant. Samco are and viper have a compatible range which are green according to their website at extra cost. Not sure on ash it's worth asking. Oat is mainly for alloy engines.

Plenty of things I researched on this before buying hoses. Found that Caterham use Comma OAT with standard silicon hoses on cars for a while now and read plenty of threads regarding hoses potentially disintegrating( or not actually) before deciding that my engine needs OAT and if I need to change hoses every 3 to 4 years is cheaper than replacing failing water pumps, internal corrosion etc.

My last ASH delivery took ages and when I chased them, they said it was ordered and sent. Obviously now I realise it maybe wasnt and gee'd them up. There has been ebay feedback of people moaning but more of people being happy. I had only last night ordered a new hose too...........

[Steve (sdh2903)]

Id not even give that a second thought to be honest. Looks like forge motorsport and sfs claim their hoses are OAT resistant. 

[Northwarks]

Used ASH a few times, been fine, my last order earlier in the year they forgot to roll the ends of my tubing plus missed off stuff but credit to the guy I chatted with they shipped the missing hoses PDQ

[CosKev]

Ah no not good to hear

Used them numerous times over the years and always buy silicone pipes off them and they have always been spot on.

One of my pet hates is different shades of coloured silicone pipes from different manufacturers in a engine bay, looks awful

[Steve (sdh2903)]

Ah no not good to hear

Used them numerous times over the years and always buy silicone pipes off them and they have always been spot on.

One of my pet hates is different shades of coloured silicone pipes from different manufacturers in a engine bay, looks awful

 

Your right its a shame as they have always been spot on, Im still waiting on a refund from 2 weeks ago aswell for parts that never showed up. The type of mismatch can be seen in the pic below. The layering of the silicon and the colours are not even remotely in the same ball park. 2 of the 90 degree bends were more like 75 degrees!

 

[CosKev]

Oh dear that is bad

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

Can be hard to avoid sometimes, I know on other cars I've come across a situation where you need a couple or more non-standard/speciality hoses and can only get them from two different suppliers!

I've used ASH in the past, but on this car mainly Viper, as that's the brand of the bespoke "s-bend" lower radiator hose.

I recall using Highbury Hoses many years ago; excellent quality and good people to deal with along with low prices, trouble is , their colours, blue especially weren't even close to anyone else's!

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

Ooh, forgot to say, though Viper might be a wee bit dearer, (I didn't compare, so couldn't really say), their service was excellent, even when I accidentally ordered a hose in blue instead of black, (damned butter fingers on an iPad drop down list), it was quickly resolved.

[Thrustyjust]

Well good news, my pipe is here today from ASH, so I'm sorted 

[Ianboom]

Ordered some hose about 10 days ago before I read this, they're waiting for their supplier to send some more stock which will apparently be in the next week or so. 

 

I don't mind the wait if the quality is good.......