Austin Healey Cooling Hoses

Cooling hoses do not need to look dramatic to cause trouble. A hose can appear passable at rest and still soften, swell, weep or fail once the system is hot and under pressure. That is usually when you are furthest from the kettle, naturally.

For Big Healey owners, Kevlar-reinforced hoses are the main upgrade route, with CapeSport silicone options also available for selected top and bottom hose applications. Sprite and MG Midget owners can choose from standard and black silicone radiator hose options, depending on engine and radiator layout.

• Big Healey Kevlar options: reinforced top and bottom radiator hoses for BN1-BN2 and BN4-BJ8 applications.
• CapeSport silicone options: available for selected Big Healey top and bottom hose applications, including cloth-wrapped O.E.-style BN1-BN2 hoses developed alongside Roger Moment.
• Sprite and MG Midget options: standard and black silicone radiator hoses for vertical-flow and cross-flow layouts.
• Best replaced before failure: cracked, swollen, hardened, soft or unknown-age hoses should not be trusted to “probably be fine”.
• Application details matter: check model, radiator layout, heater take-off and hose routing before ordering.

Choose the correct cooling hoses

Start with the model range, then check the hose position and cooling layout. For BN4-BJ8 Big Healey bottom hoses, confirm whether the car uses the heater take-off version. For Sprite and MG Midget, confirm vertical-flow or cross-flow layout before ordering.

Big Healey Kevlar and silicone hoses

Austin Healey 100 BN1 to BN2 Kevlar and O.E.-style silicone hoses

The BN1-BN2 cloth-wrapped O.E.-style silicone top and bottom hoses were developed alongside Roger Moment, combining original-style appearance with modern silicone performance.

Austin Healey 100-Six & 3000 BN4 to BJ8 hoses

Sprite & MG Midget standard and silicone hoses

Sprite & MG Midget top hoses

Sprite & MG Midget bottom hoses

The key question is what the hose is telling you. Cracks, swelling, softness, hardening, staining around joints or a coolant smell after a run are all reasons to investigate before the next hot day finds the weak spot for you.

If the car still runs hot after the hoses are renewed, look deeper into radiator efficiency, coolant circulation, thermostat operation, water pump condition and fan belt condition.

• Good candidate: old, cracked, swollen, soft, oil-contaminated or unknown-age hoses.
• Check first: radiator and engine spigots, hose clip condition, coolant type and whether the heater take-off layout matches the car.
• Look deeper: repeated coolant loss may also point to the cap, radiator joints, thermostat, pump or pressure issues.

Back to Austin Healey Cooling Advice

Useful cooling checks while you are there

Replacing hoses is a good time to check the small sealing and service parts that often get ignored until coolant starts appearing where it has no business being.

• Hose clips: choose the correct clip style and tighten evenly, then recheck after the first full heat cycle.
• Coolant and antifreeze: drain, flush and refill correctly if the coolant history is unknown.
• Radiator spigots: check for corrosion, pitting or old sealant that may stop a fresh hose sealing properly.
• Radiator cap: inspect the cap if the car loses coolant after hot running or pressure build-up.