boost gauge nylon tubing

[Motor Sport Visions Photography]

In a message dated 6/20/2001 Brett Dikeman
<quattro at brettd.dsl.speakeasy.net> writes:

<< Audi uses the fabric(not nylon) covered hoses; prohibitive at the
dealer,
but at some auto parts stores, cents on the foot.  Call around a few
places.  In Boston/MA, Foreign Autopart carries the stuff for like $.10
a
foot I think.  Someone should get Blau, Rod, or Mac to buy the stuff
super-bulk...people would probably buy it since it's cheap and we're
always having to replace the hoses.  Too bad nobody makes viton-like
hoses. >>

I'm not sure what the material is (nylon or polyethelyne) but Audi does
use many semi-rigid tubes in the type-44 in the vacuum system and I'm
pretty sure that the line that feeds manifold pressure/vacuum to the ECU
is this material (semi-rigid) as well. I think that maybe the type of
tubing Oliver is after. I would suggest trying local hose shops or a
large tubing supplier such as Ryan-Herco, etc.

Here at my day job we have lots of different tubes and hoses (we build
microprocessor controlled chemical dispensers for commercial laundry and
dishwashing). A few years back I looked into getting some Viton tube (we
have plenty) for replacement use in my Audi for vacuum lines, etc. But,
when I started looking through the hose/tubing supplier catalogs I found
that Automotive grade EPDM (specially formulated for heat, oil, and fuel
resistance) is really the way to go (and unfortunately we don't have
that stuff...) Viton is *very* expensive also. We get ~14.00 a foot at
best sell price for Viton pump (paristaltic pumps) tubes which is about
the right size for Audi turbo engine vacuum lines. Not cheap, and not
the ideal material (hence why I dumped the idea of getting a bulk
purchase on the stuff).

I don't really see any reason why good quality automotive vacuum hose
wouldn't work for a boost gauge. Perhaps the spikes would be absorbed by
the walls of the hose flexing but I can't imagine that would be enough
to effect gauge readings by all that much.

HTH

Mike Veglia
Motor Sport Visions Photography
http://www.motorsportvisions.com