dumb hose clamp questions
 

I've had some issues with the coolant hose going to my turbo. It started leaking near the tip after I tightened it down the other day. When I expected the hose I had a small crack/hole where the clamp was. I thought maybe i clamped it too tight and caused the hole myself...which hasn't happened on any other hoses I've clamped. FYI i was using a ratchet.

I cut about an inch off (i had plenty of excess) and tried again. This time i didn't clamp quite as much. It started leaking the next day. I tightened it as much as i could and it stopped for a while. It leaked again this morning on my way to work so i loosened the clamp and moved it back about 1cm and tightened the crap out of it. I filled her with water and made it to work and home without an issue.

This sounds really dumb (because it is i guess), but what are some suggestions for clamping hoses? How tight should I go? As tight as i can without the clamp breaking? Should I leave about 1cm or so between the clamp and the edge of the hose? More than 1cm? Less than 1cm?

Again, this is the coolant hose that goes into the turbo. Should I put some heat shielding on it? I usually only see people wrap the heater hoses that run to and from the heater core.

Thanks for your help with my dumb, newbie questions. :)

What kind of clamp are you using? Does it have grooves in it all the way around the band?
Does the hose fit tight on the hosebarb? The the hose it too large for the hose barb then you're never really going to have an awesome seal for long periods of time. It will pretty much always end up leaking after it gets older, heats up, swells, makes a mess.
As for how tight is tight enough. I tighten until it feels good, i don't have a rule of thumb i go by. I do know you can overtighten to the point where you can cut the hose so don't do that.

It does have grooves at least most of the way around the band. It at least as enough where I can go tighter if it were a smaller hose.

The hose fits tight. It takes a little work to get it off and on.

If I have to I will just switch to stainless braided hoses. I'd rather spend the money on something "fun" but I need reliability first.

if the hose needs work to get on the barb then the hose is not a problem...
by all means, go the stainless route and forget all about coolant line for good

in the mean time, tighten the cose clamp to where it barely indents into the hose
depending how long your barb is, i try to put the clamps in the middle of it and have the hose on as far as it makes sense...