I extracted my leaking heater core last night. I had been warned by another member that getting the hoses off can be the most difficult part of the job.
After determining that I would do no structural damage under the dash by doing so, I wrestled with the lower heater hose till the solder joint failed at the old core and the pipe pulled through the front bulkhead. (You can’t properly call it the firewall.) Separating the hose from the pipe was then easy.
That got me thinking. I’d be foolish not to replace both of those hoses at this time because if I have to change them in a few years, I am likely to start my heater core leaking in the process. At least with new hoses, I could postpone that hazard for a little longer. The existing hoses look fine but their age is unknown.
My question for all of you fine forum Fiero aficionados is this:
Is there some lubricant that I can/should apply the water pipes at the hose connections that will prevent the hoses from sticking ten years from now? I fear that petroleum based greases would damage the rubber and Vaseline might evaporate. How about white grease? Is there dome Teflon coating that might be applied? How about Teflon plumbers tape? I just thought of that. Maybe that’s the solution.
There would still be plenty of friction to hold the hose on because the pressure would be acting on less than half a square inch of area.
One of the Apollo missions brought back part of an unmanned lunar lander. The Teflon electrical insulation had been exposed to the lunar environment for years and was found to be in pristine condition.

AGS brand sold in many auto parts store along with brake, ignition and other specialty greases in small packets. Some labels are still printed in English I believe.

[This message has been edited by spark1 (edited 09-20-2007).]

A silicone grease will work as it won't contaminate the coolant.

For future reference, when replacing something where you aren't saving it, like the heater core, just use channel locks to crush the hose with the metal tube inside, being careful not to cut the rubber, then pull the pieces out of the hose. By the time they get this old the yellow brass just crumbles into pieces.

JazzMan

KY jelly

Thank you, everyone else for your input. The product mentioned by spark1 is available at AutoZone by the name "Radiator Hose Grease" and it must be a fairly new product because the manufacturer’s web site does not mention it on their products page.

I use whatever happens to be laying about. grease - oil - whatever. not horribly concerned with these getting into the coolant.

Just slit the hose with a knife and peal it off the heater core fitting. I just replaced mine and I still had enough good hose left to hook up to the new core.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by gem1138:

Is there some lubricant that I can/should apply the water pipes at the hose connections that will prevent the hoses from sticking ten years from now?

In a word, no. In 30 or 40 years in the auto repair business, I never found a solution. Silicone grease is the best partial solution but it eventually disappears and the hose becomes one with the nipple (resistance is futile).

A sure cure is to use AN nipples every where but that has its own problems

I always look at it that if the hose has glued itself to the core then it is time to go anyway. Slit the damn thing and replace it.

Use an awl, with the tip bent at a 90 degree angle. Insert it into the space between the hose and core nipple, moving it around the inside perimeter of the hose to separate it from the core nipple. They actually make a tool specifically for this purpose. You could also us a piece of brazing rod bent in the same manner. Then there's no need to cut or replace the heater hose. KY jelly is good for reconnecting the hose, but does nothing for removing it in the future.