EMPI Aluminum Heater Hose — The Upgrade Your Beetle's Heating System Needs

The stock VW Beetle heater hoses are a 60-year-old design built from rubber — and after decades of heat cycling, vibration, and ozone exposure, they crack, collapse, and fall apart. EMPI's aluminum heater hose is a direct upgrade that eliminates the rubber failure point entirely. Constructed from lightweight aluminum tubing, this 50mm × 1000mm hose routes cabin heat from the heater box to the body channels without the brittleness or compression risk of old rubber.

Why Aluminum Over Rubber

Rubber heater hoses on air-cooled VWs are notorious for two failure modes: cracking from ozone and heat aging, and collapsing under low pressure. When a hose collapses internally, it blocks airflow to the cabin heater even when the heater levers are open — a problem that's invisible from outside the car and frustrating to diagnose. Aluminum tubing doesn't age, doesn't crack, and cannot collapse. It also runs cooler to the touch, reducing the risk of contact burns during service.

The 50mm diameter matches the OEM heater hose specification exactly, so this hose connects to stock heater boxes, J-tubes, and body outlets without adapters. The 1000mm length covers the standard routing length on most Type 1 applications.

Simple Installation

EMPI designed this hose for straightforward installation in the stock routing path. The aluminum tubing can be gently bent to routing requirements without kinking, and standard hose clamps (not included) secure it at both ends. Sold individually — order two for a complete front-to-rear heater circuit replacement.

Fitment

• Volkswagen Type 1 Beetle: 1955–1979
• Volkswagen Karmann Ghia: 1956–1974
• Note: Sold each — most applications require 2 hoses (one per side)

Specifications

• SKU / Part Number: 00-3494-0
• Material: Aluminum
• Diameter: 50mm
• Length: 1000mm (approx 39.4")
• Sold: Each (1 pc)