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What's that hose at the bottom of my Blade?
Alez - 12/5/04 at 09:31 AM

Hi,

Looks like I'm developing a healthy habit of looking underneath the car to see if it will go past speed bumpers and so on

I've noticed there's some hose which sits very slightly lower than the chopped blade sump. It's just a few mm lower but I was wondering if it could be maybe very straightforward to shorten a bit? What is it?

Cheers,

Alex

[Edited on 12/5/04 by Alez]

ChrisGamlin - 12/5/04 at 02:58 PM

Its probably one of the water hoses that runs from the water pump (at the back of the engine near the passengers feet), either to the oil cooler (the bit the oil filter bolts to) or its the bottom hose that runs to the radiator.
If so, and there is definite slack there then you can shorten it, but make sure the pipes arent under any tension or being forced round tight corners and kinking etc. Personally I'd just look for a suitable location to cable tie it to.

It might be worth posting a picture of it before you go chopping though, just in case Im wrong!

Chris

locoboy - 12/5/04 at 09:15 PM

Chris G wrong about a blade engine.......................surely not possible!

Alez - 13/5/04 at 06:33 AM

quote:
Originally posted by colmaccoll
Chris G wrong about a blade engine.......................surely not possible!


That's what I thought Col, I didn't post a pic of it because it's all underneath so it may be difficult although I will try soon, but guess the position of the hose, it's exactly where Chris said at the back of the engine!

Cheers,

Alex

ChrisGamlin - 13/5/04 at 03:57 PM

quote:
Originally posted by colmaccoll
Chris G wrong about a blade engine.......................surely not possible!


LOL thanks (I think )

Alez - 21/5/04 at 08:15 AM

Yesterday I saw my car from underneath for the first time! I took quite some pictures and measured distances and so on since I won't get many opportunities.

I took a picture of the hose that is sitting low, it goes from some T joint to the oil filter and is flexible enough to tie to somewhere (although I'm now thinking about covering everything with sheet with some foam spacer to protect the sump anyway).

So, what is it?




Cheers,

Alex

David Jenkins - 21/5/04 at 08:21 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Alez
I'm now thinking about covering everything with sheet with some foam spacer to protect the sump


Don't forget that the engine oil gets a lot of extra cooling from the air flowing under the sump - using foam may result in the oil overheating.

You'd probably be better off with a strong sump guard with loads of holes (like the rally drivers use) although that may take all your ground clearance away...

David

Alez - 21/5/04 at 08:39 AM

Good point David, I'll definitely go for that instead, I need clearance anyway being it air or foam so the clearance issue is about the same but I'd rather hit a protection than a sump even if I hit it much more frequently Thanks!

ChrisGamlin - 21/5/04 at 10:09 AM

Hi Alex

As I guessed, its a water pipe from the water pump to the oil cooler. What you could do is put a P clip bolted through one of the sump bolts, then put a cable tie through the P clip and hold the water hose like that.
I wouldnt cover the bottom of the engine in entirely cos apart from the heat build up, it will fill up with oily crap which will be a nightmare to clean out!

Chris

Alez - 21/5/04 at 12:30 PM

Many thanks Chris. I'm now thinking of some trade-off solution like a thick plate with lots of big holes (as seen in big off road bikes). That shouldn't get too dirty and should allow for good sump heat transfer. Oh, also thanks for identifying the hose for me, it's good for me to start learning what things are