this always come up of course.
you mention Armor-all, and several people will say it deteriorates things or
whatever.

you mention WD-40 and people will say it's not a lubricant or whatever !
I can agree that amora-all might contribute to tire cracking, but havn't
observed it myself.
I think exposure to sun is a big factor in tires cracking.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike" <mbucchino@CHARTER.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, July 26, 2008 3:43 AM
Subject: Re: Cleaning and Preserving coolant hoses

>I definitely do NOT recommend Armor-All as a 'protecteant/ preservative for
> rubber.   I new a guy that had a show car and doused the tires liberally
> and
> frequently with nothing but this 'magic' substance.  He showed me the
> results; long and gaping cracks on the outer sidewalls that went all the
> way
> down to the cords inside.  He said, "Don't ever use this crap!", and I
> believe him.
>  Most others who have used this stuff heavily will tell you the same
> thing.
> I wouldn't put it on anything I cared to keep.
>
> Mike B.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Chris S" <szpejankowski@GMAIL.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Friday, July 25, 2008 6:16 PM
> Subject: Re: Cleaning and Preserving coolant hoses
>
>
>> What about Silicone spray?  I also heard Vaseline is good for rubber.
>>
>> It just so happens I have some '84 hoses I'll be selling soon.
>>
>> Chris S.
>>
>> On Fri, Jul 25, 2008 at 2:52 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans <
>> scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:
>>
>>> to get old cooling system hoses looking nice.........
>>> I clean them with either Simple Green, or Tire Cleaner.
>>> then I treat them with Armorall.
>>> they come out very nice that way - look totally new and shiny.
>>>
>>> for storage- a place that's cool, dry, and not exposed to a lot of
>>> light.
>>> scott
>>> www.turbovans.com
>>> and.............I sure must say, they sure used good rubber on those
>>> hoses.
>>> Even at 20 years old.......most of them on the van last super well.  Not
>>> a
>>> weak spot at all...........it's a buncha other places in the cooling
>>> system
>>> that are the weak spots - lol.
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "B Feddish" <bfeddish@NETREACH.NET>
>>> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>>> Sent: Friday, July 25, 2008 7:08 AM
>>> Subject: Cleaning and Preserving coolant hoses
>>>
>>>
>>>  I have a complete engine that Chris and I liberated from his 83.5 parts
>>>> van.
>>>> I am cleaning up the parts and putting them aside. As for the coolant
>>>> hoses,
>>>> what can I use to clean them and is there anything I should do to
>>>> preserve
>>>> them while they are stored?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks,
>>>> Bryan
>>>>
>>>