THROUGH HELL AND HIGH WATER -- part Five (HIGH WATER-2) My Amphib index
I had plans to put the vehicle on fire. but I decided that this event would be incomplete without the presence of the professional mechanic that has build this vehicle. Chained on top of it I mean! In the light of things below on this page I think those feelings will NEVER fade away.
On High water part one I have mentioned the reverse cooling system. and the fact that the first test drive went to hell and back again.
While working on the fuel and the cooling system I found that the hoses used where water hoses NOT to be used for diesel and motor oil.
If you use them for motor oil or diesel they will get HARD, very HARD indeed. On the right is a photo of a diesel fuel hose, NO trick shot, it is a 2 kg hammer on a 12 mm "soft" rubber hose. So the fuel leak was the vibration of the tanks (pressure variations in the fuel) and two hoses that would not bent, fastened with a very cheap plastic hose clamp.
When I was removing the old hard hoses and trying to find a way to prevent the hoses rubbing again to clamps, walls, engine or to other hoses. I suddenly saw it, but not the light. The oil temperature is measured AFTER the oil cooling system, so when I thought the engine oil temperature was a 140 degrees the oil temperature was in reality 160 to 180 degrees. An image of a person with an axe in his head came to my mind.	This brought back memories of the engine bay temperature meter that realy measured the temperature of the fire wall. I used it now to measure the cool water temperature, before and also after the cooling system. By the flick of a switch I can see what there is left in cooling capacity. That gives me a fair idea when the overheating starts. I'm going use the same system for the oil temperature.
One of "those" other things: The builder used 1 rubber O-rings instead of 2 copper rings, a little detail the third ring (on rear side of the unit on the right) is a copper ring. The O-rings came out almost broken. Not much of a leak but still a leak, I expect that copper rings will work better. On the left the new copper rings that I will use.
	The old hose reads Hydro 16 bar that is a water hose. A hydraulic hose wood reed 200 bar If I try to bend them sharp they will crack The new one reads Petrol - Oil 25 bar and it is nice soft rubber that will easy bend. I DO NOT HAVE 40 years experience in building cars. but this I know:  Oil and cheap hoses do not go together.
In the mean time I have to rethink the cooling system, now I know the real oil temperature is 40 degrees higher than the meter showed. (or more)
	I have not done any work on the Amphib after February 2008 I'm not in any shape to do any thing.
My Amphib index	So far but not good :-)