are all of these corrosion build ups and bumps invisible to the naked eye? i'm serious because i don't really see any but if i'm not supposed to see them, if they are in fact tiny bumps, then maybe that is the problem.

yes, they are new hoses and don't have the years and years of stresses to create conformity to the metal hoses anymore, so jimmy's point might not be moot, it could be BECAUSE of the new hoses.

what if instead of RTV i get a strip of thinner rubber to wrap around the metal hose first before putting the rubber hose on? that way i could make a tighter seal? of course, it still won't seal if there are corrosion bumps......

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