Oil Lines, which to use? Options

[porsche735]

OK, so I am finally going to run a front mounted oil cooler. From what I have read -12 AN is the way to go for the lines. However, there are 2 choices.

Aeroquip steel braided hose at $6.55 a foot
Aeroquip socketless hose at $4.96 a foot

Seems like I will need about 28 feet (sounds like a lot) from what I have read. So cost difference is $44.52.

The connectors are more expensive too $88.18 for the socketless versus $126.52 for the reuseable. There is another $38.34. Total $82.86 difference.

It seems that given the routing that there is not much abrasion (http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?act=ST&f=2&t=4657).

Is the steel braided really needed? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

Wadya think?

Chris

[ArtechnikA]

Fluidyne 30618 (21"x5.88"x3") $321 (what are the "extra" AN-6 and 3/8" NPT for?)

I still can't find a site with the Earl's cooler!!!

What are your thoughts on steel braided versus regular hose?

try here Earl's Website for Earl's. no pricing AFAIK, i go to Summit for Earl's stuff, they have the big books with pricing...

my guess on the FluidDyne 'extra' fittings is the drain at the cooler itself; a nice feature.

i prefer the braided steel hose but lots of guys have reported good results with blue high-pressure hydraulic-equipment hose.

on the line from the tank to the oil pump run an anti-collapse internal spring if possible - evidently it's possible for the pump to pull quite a vacuum on that line. IAC it'd be bad to have the hose liner collapse.

look at the Earl's application information for pressure ratings and such - they make a wide variety of hose types for a reason. there's always a tradeoff on performance vs weight vs cost. and even thr braided steel stuff does NOT last forever - or more accurately - the neoprene doesn't - especially in the ozone-laden desert southwest. i had some fuel hose spring leaks like a garden soaker hose - i'm sure the fuel oxygenates don't help this situation ...