[eatonde]

hey guys, I was walkin through the hardware store yesterday and came across some stainless steel braided lines, 3/8", 1/2", and 5/8, with pressure fittings on the ends in rolls from 5ft all the way to 20ft. They are rated for 250* F temp and 300PSI, but they are actually for dishwasher's.
The more I looked and thought about it, I had to see If I'd even to be able to seal the pressure fittings and reduce the threads down and make it have male ends instead of female. This was easily accomplished with some pipe thread and some other stuff.. They are selling these lines for $10 for a 5 ft line with the fittings. I am gonna give them a try and see how they work. If they can really handle what they are rated at, they should work just fine, plus I like the look. All my other lines are braid SS except the tranny's.

For 2 lines I'm saving about 30 bucks for lines of the same rating at the auto parts store. What do you guys think?? Will it work OK, or will I be sorry???

[techinspector1]

Well, you know the liner in the hose is compatible with hot water. The question is, is it compatible with hot transmission fluid?

[sexypizzaman]

Haha that's funny you posted this because guess what I just did last weekend, switched up my tranny cooler lines for 2 3/8" dishwasher stainless steel lines I found at rona. I ran it once last weekend with them on there and no leaks and no problems. You should be A ok!!

(my lines cost $25 each and were about 5 feet as well!!)

[eatonde]

WOW, $25 each, thats kinda high compared to these. I hope its not a sign of the quality of these lines. Oh well, only one way to find out!!!!!

[sunsetdart]

I have the braided lines on my washer and my toilets too. The only thing I have seen with them is that the braid is not of the same quality as say and Aeroquip or Earls, they have some rust spots on them. Other than that I figure they should work fine for your application.

[SlowGTA]

"What do you guys think?? Will it work OK, or will I be sorry???"

I think you'll be sorry...eventually. As Tech said, there's a difference between hot water and transmission fluid. If it makes you feel any better I'm sure when the core deteriorates and fails it'll be in your driveway on a bright, warm, sunny day

[JeffB]

Originally Posted by SlowGTA

"What do you guys think?? Will it work OK, or will I be sorry???"

I think you'll be sorry...eventually. As Tech said, there's a difference between hot water and transmission fluid. If it makes you feel any better I'm sure when the core deteriorates and fails it'll be in your driveway on a bright, warm, sunny day

Or, the rubber deteriorates and gums up your transmission? $$$

[ScoTFrenzel]

OK here's my secret trick.
IF you are only interested in replacing the rubber lines that connect the steel to the radiator, and you want pretty braided lines.......

Go to your friendly neighborhood airplane shop and get the old lines they take off at mandatory 10 year replacement intervals. These are usually covered with orange heat sleeve that can be easily removed.
The AN fittings are 37* but can be attached to the 45* on low pressure lines with no problems.... or you can change the fittings to match the braided 37* lines.
Aircraft lines RARELY deteriorate.

These lines are extremely expensive new because they are aircraft grade insides with stainless braid..... but FREE if you get them out of the dumpster, or your friendly A&P will save them for you.

I know people who use them for fuel lines and brake lines..... but I don't trust them for brakes.

Oh, by the way, the heat sleeve is removable, and it sells for $3 a foot in Jegs/Summit,,,, used on spark plug wires to stop melting by your headers.

I have about 100 lines saved, from 1/4 inch to 5/8 inch diameter, running from 8" to 36" long. FREE.

sssssshhhhhhh, it's a secret