in the pictures provided (thank you), the hose at issue is the one right in the top middle in the second picture and in the first picture, it's the one coming up and over the top of all of them. yes, those are the original mercedes hose clamps. i got rid of those with the hoses as two of them broke from rust a couple of months ago and i figured they should all be replaced if that's the condition they're now in. they do look skinnier than the clamps that i bought....

the napa clamps ARE socket drive, and that has helped me to tighten the heck out of them. so tight that rubber is coming through the screw slits. before someone asks, they have NOT cut through the rubber or damaged the hose because of their tightness, that's not the issue.

if you guys think that the clamps really have that much to do with it, are there other styles/shapes/thicknesses out there? i only have a couple auto stores / hardware stores at my disposal, is there an online hose clamp shop? maybe with all the hassle that went into getting these on there in the first place they bent and are no longer holding an even clamp?

maybe i should pick up a couple extra new hose clamps from napa and try them out.

as you guys help me chase this one down, what are your professional opinions about the RTV if it comes to that?

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1985 300D - 1984 Euro 280E AMG Clone (SOLD) - 1978 280CE (SOLD) - 1983 300D (SOLD) - 1981 300D (SOLD)