In a hurry? Here’s what you need to know:

• The outer cover tells you nothing. Chemical compatibility is determined by the inner liner, not the braid, jacket, or anything you can see from the outside. Two hoses can look identical and behave completely differently with the same fluid.

• NBR handles petroleum fuels; EPDM handles steam and hot water. They are not interchangeable. Swapping them is the most common wrong-material selection in the field, and EPDM in oil doesn't fail slowly; it swells quickly.

• Temperature changes everything. A material rated compatible at 20°C can degrade badly with the same fluid at 80°C. Ambient compatibility ratings are not the same as elevated-temperature ratings.

• PTFE is the safe default when you're not sure. It resists almost everything, fuels, ethanol blends, acids, solvents, and food fluids across the widest temperature range of any common hose material. The trade-off is flexibility and cost.

Pick the wrong hose material and you won't always know immediately. It might look fine for weeks. Then it swells from the inside out, goes soft, starts weeping, or cracks somewhere you can't see. The failure rarely announces itself before something goes wrong.

In this guide, we cover the main hose materials used in industrial, agricultural, automotive, and marine applications and map them to the fluids they can and can't handle. Keep reading to learn more…

Hose material by fluid

Why the outer cover tells you nothing

The outer cover of a hose is about protection, abrasion, UV, ozone, and physical damage. What determines chemical compatibility is the inner tube, the part actually in contact with the fluid.

Two hoses can be sold under identical product names, look the same, feel the same, and cost the same. One has a nitrile inner liner, fine for diesel but not for ethanol blends. The other has a PTFE inner liner that handles both without issue. If you bought on name and price alone, you'd have no idea which one you had until it failed.

Four things determine whether a hose material and a fluid will get along:

The tube material is the main one. NBR, EPDM, PVC, silicone, PTFE, and neoprene each have a different chemical resistance profile, and there's no universal "chemical-resistant" rubber regardless of what the packaging says.

Temperature matters more than most people account for. A material rated compatible at 20°C can degrade badly at 80°C with the same fluid. Diesel at ambient temperature is one thing; diesel in a return line from a hot engine is a different application.

Concentration is mainly relevant for chemicals and cleaning agents. A hose that handles a 10% acid solution may not survive 70% of the same substance.

Duration affects how failures show up. Compatibility ratings assume continuous exposure. A hose used intermittently with a borderline fluid might outlast predictions or fail sooner depending on the duty cycle and what else the hose is exposed to.

Nitrile rubber (NBR)

NBR is the default for fuel hoses for good reason. It resists petroleum-based oils, diesel, and petrol reliably and has been the standard material across automotive, agricultural, and industrial fuel systems for decades.

For standard mineral diesel, biodiesel blends up to approximately B20, mineral oils, hydraulic oils, and petroleum-based lubricants, NBR is the correct choice. LP gas is also generally fine.

The problem is ethanol. E10, standard UK pump petrol since September 2021, is broadly considered acceptable for NBR in the short term. Prolonged exposure, though, can cause swelling and softening, particularly in older hoses not formulated with ethanol content in mind. E85 will degrade NBR progressively, full stop. Ketones, esters, and strong oxidising acids are also problematic.

In practice, this is the question to ask about any existing rubber fuel line on older vehicles or equipment: when was it installed, and what was the petrol grade at the time? NBR hose specified before around 2010 was designed around E0 or E5. It may still be performing fine, or it may be soft and porous in ways that aren't visible from the outside. Replacing aged fuel lines with nitrile rated for current E10 exposure, or moving to PTFE, is the lower-risk option for anything running continuously.

You'll find NBR in fuel delivery hose, oil and fuel hose assemblies, and hydraulic return lines.

PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene)

When compatibility is uncertain, PTFE is the material to reach for. It resists nearly every common industrial fluid, fuels, oils, chemical, and solvent across a wide temperature range (roughly -60°C to +200°C in most grades). The inner bore is smooth enough to matter in food and pharmaceutical applications where surface cleanliness is important.

For fuel work specifically, it handles petrol, diesel, ethanol at any blend concentration, biodiesel, methanol, and most race and performance fuels without issue. It's also resistant to strong acids at moderate concentrations and most alkalis and solvents. The list of things it won't handle in normal industrial use is short: certain fluorinated compounds and molten alkali metals, neither of which you'll encounter in a hose application.

The real trade-off with PTFE is flexibility. It's less pliable than rubber, has a tighter minimum bend radius, and won't forgive being kinked during installation. For a fixed or low-movement installation, that's rarely a problem. For an application where the hose flexes regularly, you need to confirm the bend radius can actually be maintained in service, not just at installation.

The cost is higher than rubber. For a static fuel line where the compatibility question is the concern, it's worth it. For a low-stakes application running standard mineral diesel with no ethanol, NBR does the same job at lower cost.

PTFE is used in braided fuel lines for performance and modified vehicles, food and pharmaceutical process hose, chemical transfer lines, and high-temperature applications generally.

EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer)

EPDM and oil are genuinely incompatible. Petrol, diesel, mineral hydraulic oil, and petroleum lubricants will cause EPDM to swell rapidly, it doesn't deteriorate slowly, it goes quickly. This is the most common wrong-material selection we see, usually because someone picked a generic rubber hose without checking the tube compound.

Where EPDM belongs is in steam, hot water, and certain chemical applications. It handles steam to approximately 180°C depending on grade, hot water, brake fluid, dilute acids and alkalis, many ketones, alcohols, and phosphate ester hydraulic fluids. It also holds up well to ozone and weathering, which matters in outdoor or plant-side installations.

The steam case is worth dwelling on. EPDM is the standard inner tube material for steam hose because it handles the combination of heat and condensate that degrades other rubbers. For food processing, brewing, pharmaceutical cleaning, or industrial washdown with steam, EPDM is almost certainly what you need. The important check is the specific temperature and pressure rating for the grade you're buying. A hose rated for 8 bar at 120°C is not the same product as one rated for the same pressure at 160°C, even if they look identical on the shelf.

EPDM is also the tube material for radiator hose on many vehicles, but see the silicone section below if thermal cycling is severe.

You'll find EPDM in steam hose, hot water hose, radiator and cooling system hose, chemical process hose, and brake and clutch hydraulic lines.

PVC (polyvinyl chloride)

PVC is cost-effective and, in clear grades, transparent enough to use as a sight glass or level indicator. It works well for water, compressed air, and mild chemicals at ambient temperatures. Its limitations are real and worth knowing.

Petroleum fuels and oils will cause PVC to swell and soften. Not eventually, fairly quickly. Don't use PVC for fuel service in any meaningful capacity. Clear PVC hose sometimes ends up short. runs as a visual indicator in fuel systems, which is borderline and not something to extend into working lines.

Temperature is the other limit. Standard-grade PVC loses flexibility at low temperatures (around 0°C and below, depending on the plasticiser content) and should not be used for steam or sustained hot water above about 60°C. For ambient-temperature compressed air at normal workshop pressures, it's fine. For discharge-side air from a compressor, hot and potentially oily, it isn't.

PVC serves well in water supply, low-pressure compressed air, food and drink transfer in food-grade specifications, drainage, and low-concentration chemical handling at ambient temperatures.

Silicone

Silicone handles temperature extremes that most rubbers won't. It's the right call for coolant systems, turbo intercooler connections, and high-temperature air and gas ducting. It is not a fuel hose material.

Silicone is porous. Run petroleum-based fuel through it and the vapour permeates the wall; run liquid fuel through it and it swells and degrades structurally. "Silicone fuel hose" is not a real product for standard petrol or diesel applications, regardless of how it's sometimes marketed. There are fluorosilicone grades with limited fuel resistance, but they're specialised materials and not what people are typically buying off the shelf.

For coolant, water and glycol mixtures, silicone is genuinely worth the premium, particularly on performance engines or anywhere thermal cycling is aggressive. It outlasts standard rubber in that duty, stays flexible at low temperatures better than EPDM, and handles the peak temperatures that occur during hard running without cracking. The cost is higher but not dramatically so for a critical cooling line.

In platinum-cured grades, silicone is also used for food and pharmaceutical contact where extractables and leachables matter. Standard industrial silicone hose is not the same thing, check the grade.

Silicone is used in coolant and radiator hoses, turbo intake and intercooler hoses, hot air ducting, food and pharmaceutical hoses (platinum-cured grades specifically), and high-temperature general-purpose applications.

Neoprene (CR)

Neoprene sits in the middle ground between nitrile and EPDM. It handles moderate oil and fuel exposure better than EPDM but is not a substitute for nitrile in sustained fuel contact. Its real strengths are weathering resistance, ozone resistance, and behaviour in marine and refrigerant environments.

It's used in marine applications, HVAC, refrigeration hoses, and situations requiring a general-purpose rubber with some chemical resilience. Strong oxidising acids, ketones, and aromatic hydrocarbons will degrade it. For sustained immersion in fuel or mineral oil, use nitrile.

Specific fluid decisions

Diesel

Standard mineral diesel: nitrile is correct. It's been the standard for diesel fuel lines for decades, and there's no reason to change that unless the application involves high temperatures or a biodiesel blend.

Biodiesel adds a variable. Up to B20 (20% biodiesel, 80% mineral diesel), NBR generally performs acceptably. Higher concentrations of fatty acid methyl esters can cause swelling. For B100 or high-ratio blends, PTFE is the safer specification.

Petrol and ethanol blends

E5 and E10 (standard UK pump petrol since 2021): NBR is acceptable with properly specified and non-aged hoses. The issue is existing installations from before E10 was standard; older hoses may not have been formulated for any ethanol content.

E85 and above: NBR will fail. PTFE is the correct material for any E85 conversion, flex-fuel build, or motorsport application running ethanol-blended fuels.

Hydraulic fluid

Mineral-based hydraulic oil covers the majority of applications, and NBR tube is the standard specification for them.

Water-glycol hydraulic fluids need EPDM or PTFE.

Phosphate ester fire-resistant hydraulic fluids, used in certain industrial presses and mining equipment, need EPDM. Nitrile will swell with these.

Bio-based and synthetic ester fluids vary enough that you need to check the specific product. PTFE is the safe default when the fluid specification is uncertain.

Compressed air

PVC is adequate for ambient-temperature compressed air at normal workshop pressures. Hot compressed air from the discharge side of a compressor or any installation where temperatures may be elevated and needs nitrile or EPDM. Standard PVC has no business above around a 60°C service temperature.

Steam

EPDM is the standard tube material. The check is the rating: steam at 180°C and 10 bar is a different demand from condensate return at 80°C and low pressure. Specify hose rated for the peak conditions, not the typical operating point.

Chemical transfer

Compatibility varies too much by fluid type and concentration for a short list to be reliable. The broad steer:

• Dilute acids and alkalis at low concentrations: EPDM handles many. PTFE is safer as concentration rises.

• Concentrated acids: PTFE or FEP-lined hose. Standard rubber is not suitable for strong acids.

• Solvents, ketones, esters, aromatics: PTFE handles virtually all. EPDM manages many common solvents but not aromatics. Nitrile is often poor with solvents and should not be the default choice.

• Oils and greases: nitrile or PTFE.

For anything outside these categories, get the SDS (Safety Data Sheet) for the fluid and look at the elastomer compatibility section. Any hose supplier worth calling should be able to help you read it.

Hose material by fluid

Always check the product datasheet for the specific hose before use in a fuel application. For safety-critical installations, obtain written compatibility confirmation from the hose manufacturer.

What the outer braid doesn't tell you

Braided hose, whether nylon-over-rubber or stainless-over-PTFE, is regularly bought on the assumption that the braid material indicates chemical compatibility. It doesn't. The braid is structural. It handles pressure and protects the inner tube and tells you nothing about what the inner tube is made of.

A stainless-braided hose with an NBR inner tube has the chemical compatibility of NBR. A stainless-braided hose with a PTFE inner liner has the chemical compatibility of PTFE. They can look identical from the outside and have completely different failure modes with the same fluid.

This is one of the more common ways a fuel hose ends up failing while looking like a quality product. "Braided stainless" reads as premium, and in terms of pressure rating and physical durability, it is. But if the inner liner is NBR and the application is E85, the braid is irrelevant. Check the liner specification on the product, not just the outer construction.

Temperature ratings apply at ambient

Every compatibility claim in this guide assumes ambient or moderate temperatures unless a specific range is noted. Heat changes the picture substantially. A material rated compatible at 20°C may absorb more fluid, swell further, and degrade faster at 80°C, with the same fluid, same pressure, and same duty cycle. 

If the application runs at elevated temperatures, check the manufacturer's datasheet for the specific fluid-and-temperature combination, not just the material category.

Hose material temperature ranges

Frequently asked questions

Is a PVC hose fuel resistant? 

No. PVC will swell and soften when exposed to petroleum fuels and oils. It should not be used for petrol, diesel, or oil service lines. Use nitrile (NBR) for standard fuel applications or PTFE where ethanol blends are involved.

Is a silicone hose fuel resistant? 

No. Silicone is porous and will permeate when exposed to petroleum-based fuels. It degrades structurally with liquid fuel contact. Silicone is the correct material for coolant, hot water, and high-temperature air, not fuel lines.

What hose is compatible with ethanol fuel? 

PTFE is the correct material for high-ethanol fuels, including E85. NBR is acceptable for E10 in properly specified, not-aged hose but will fail progressively with higher ethanol concentrations. PVC and silicone are not suitable for any fuel service.

Is a braided hose the same as a fuel-resistant hose? 

Not necessarily. The braid is a structural component that handles pressure and abrasion. Chemical compatibility depends on the inner liner material. A braided hose with an NBR liner has the fuel resistance of NBR. A braided hose with a PTFE liner has the fuel resistance of PTFE. Always check the liner specification.

What is the difference between nitrile and EPDM hose? 

Nitrile (NBR) resists petroleum-based oils and fuels but is incompatible with steam, hot water, and many chemicals. EPDM resists steam, hot water, brake fluid, and many chemicals but will swell rapidly when exposed to petroleum fuels or oils. They are suited to entirely different applications and should not be substituted for one another.

Can I use standard rubber hose for diesel? 

If the hose has a nitrile (NBR) inner tube, yes, NBR is the standard material for diesel fuel lines. "Rubber hose" covers many different inner compounds, though, and not all are fuel-resistant. Check the tube material specification rather than assuming any rubber hose will handle diesel.

What hose is safe for steam? 

EPDM is the standard tube material for steam hoses. The key is checking the specific pressure and temperature rating for the grade, steam-rated EPDM hose varies in its maximum service conditions. PVC and standard silicone are not suitable for steam service.

What does hose material compatibility depend on? 

Chemical compatibility between a hose and a fluid depends on four main factors: the tube material (the inner liner in contact with the fluid), the service temperature, the fluid concentration (relevant for chemicals and cleaning agents), and the duration and duty cycle of exposure.

Find quality oil and fuel hoses at The Hosemaster

Making sure your systems are safe should be a number one priority. This means you need to use the right oil and fuel hoses that are specifically designed for these conditions.

At The Hosemaster, we stock a huge range of hoses and fittings to fulfil your oil and fuel hose needs. We have decades of experience within the plumbing industry, which means you not only have access to superb supplies but also expert advice when you require it.

If you have any further questions, you can get in touch with our team online or give us a call on 01282 604 002.

Shop premium oil and fuel hoses at The Hosemaster today

For more news, information, and useful buying guides – with plenty of product advice – check out The Hosemaster blog…

A Guide to Bend Radius For Hoses | What is a Hose Assembly? | Common Hose Problems and How to Avoid Them

This guide is a general reference. Always verify compatibility against manufacturer datasheets for your specific fluid, temperature, and pressure conditions before specifying hose for critical applications.