Rejuvenating Rubber Hoses

[ZLP955]

I'm currently working on the smog system, and wondering on the best approach to deal with rubber hoses that have become hard. I believe the hose pictured below (3932476, sorry about the bad iPhone picture) is the correct one that goes from the diverter valve across to the driver side AIR tube, so I'd like to keep and reuse it, however it is not very supple.
I've been reading about putting rubber parts in a pan of boiling water and wintergreen oil, which (by all accounts) has been successful in rejuvenating and softening rubber. Plus giving the shop an interesting aroma. I'm thinking about trying this on some scrap rubber hose off-cuts, but my main concern is with preserving the markings on the original hose. AFAIK, these are ink-stamped onto the hose and I'd hate to lose those in the process.
Any thoughts, tips or advice from those who have tried this?

[maroman]

I have softened many rubber parts,floor mats, door bumpers, pads, etc. with an old time cleaning product called Lestoil.  I even softened a tire to use as a spare for my 1918 DB because it was the right brand. It had been sitting unmounted with an engine on top for decades. SO you can imagine how flat it was. I brushed it all over and sat it in the sun, repeated every day for about 2 weeks. It now fits on the rim and looks like a real tire. It will work BUT, for sure it will take off your lettering. You may be able to fill the hose and soften it from the inside? It takes a few days, maybe 2 or 3. I would practice on another hose with lettering first. Question is if it's available down under. It smells like a petroleum environment killer and burns like hell in a paper cut. good luck.

[firstgenaddict]

There is a youtube video of a guy who did 3 different products on some old motorcycle choke tubes..
Wintergreen oil was one of the things he used.

[Mike S]

 I have used Wintergreen and it works good.
I mixed 25% of Methyl Salicylate ( Wintergreen) and 75% of 91% rubbing alcohol.
It was used to recondition the original valve cover to air cleaner base hose and it didn't remove the GM and square stamping.
I also used it to recondition the door windlace that was very hard at first.
 When you first remove the parts from soaking (this is based on how soft you want them), the parts will be slightly larger but will return to normal in about a week. I've done these parts last year and they still are soft, though not as soft as when they are first removed from the solution.

Mike

[z28z11]

I've used good ole Armor All clear Detailer's for years on ribbed vacuum hoses, wiper blades, rubber items and RS windshield/headlight washer hoses, just soak them down and plastic bag them, let them absorb it for a few days. They always come out pliable, shine back to looking like a new piece. I've not found any detriments -

Regards,
Steve