What's a vacuum adapter? There are many different types of this car part. This adapter can refer to the DC connector that powers your vacuum cleaner.
It can also be the joining piece for your automotive vacuum hose used to connect the hose to the engine vacuum pump or intake manifold. The likeliest adapter you're probably searching for is the pipe or hose extension kind used for emission fittings and wet/dry vacuums for cars.
Buying a Vacuum Adapter 101
Keep in mind these recommendations when getting a car vacuum adapter.
- Metal, Plastic, and PVC Vinyl: You can avail of vacuum adapters in different materials. You can get them in stainless steel, aluminum, brass, and plastic. You can even avail of them in heat-resistant PVC vinyl form, which is the most affordable adapter type. Brass is a non-corrosive alternative to stainless steel, aluminum is the most lightweight and anti-corrosion, and stainless steel is the toughest when it comes to dependable vacuum pump action.
- Types of Vacuum Adapter by Shape: There are also various shapes to choose from as far as vacuum adapters are concerned. You can get straight, T-shape, Y-shape, F-shape, and L-shape adapters for your car. Which one should you get? Depends on the type of vacuum adapter you're replacing, of course. Just remember that the vacuum tubing for any type of adapter is sold separately and you basically have to look for a replacement clone of the busted adapter you want replaced.
- Types of Vacuum Adapters by Hose Type: Hard cuff adapters are typically used as hose connectors that fit in 12-feet to 24-feet hoses. Meanwhile, there are also fiction-fit barb adapters that push the hose right into the vacuum hose ID. You can also avail of multipurpose intake manifold vacuum fittings that fit ⅜-inch and 90° hoses. These can be utilized for intake manifold applications, vacuum pumps, and fuel lines.
- Fitment and Measurement Concerns: Check the specs of the adapter you want to replace or the connections you want to establish to get at least a ballpark figure on how big the diameter of the adapter should be. There isn't really such a thing as a universal-fit adapter although a generic aftermarket adapter can be used to fit a large amount of makes and models. For example, 2½-inch exhaust ports can allow an adapter to get cut, stretched, or clamped to fit hoses between ⅝ inches to over 2 inches.
- Making Sure the Adapter Fits by Hose Clamps: If your adapters are non-vehicle specific or don't fit by the specs of your original adapter, you can make them fit by using clips and hose clamps. Even adapters with perfect fitment depend on clamps to ensure that there's no chance for leakages or accidental removal. You can even seal or tape it up for good measure and that's not necessarily jerry-rigging an aftermarket adapter to your vacuum hose.