Technically, hoses today for your old heap *could* be 12 years old. But
even if they were 20 years old, they are not necessarily "bad" just because
of age. It is not time that makes rubber hoses fail, but exposure to
certain conditions, like heat, extreme cold, acids, petroleum products,
abrasion, ozone, and global warming. (Just put that in to see if you are
awake).

Obviously, you want to check any hose before you put it on, making sure it
isn't a dud. Considering the formulae and techniques used today, it is
highly improbable.

Happy hose hunting.

G. Matthew Bulley
Bulley-Hewlett
Corporate Communications Counselors
www.bulley-hewlett.com
Cary, NC USA
888.468.4880 tollfree

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-----Original Message-----
From:   Wally Schneider [SMTP:wallysch@HOTMAIL.COM]
Sent:   Thursday, December 16, 1999 5:12 PM
To:     vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject:        Hoses Age

Hi all

All this talk about replacing old hoses with "new" ones made me curious.
Suppose I buy new hoses for my van from a vendor, and the hoses were
manufactured in 1988, sat around warehouses, finally were sold to a
discount
vendor, sat around some more and finally were bought by me.
Are these hoses new or are they 12 years old?

Wally
84 Westy
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