Sorry Nick, liked your title, so apologies for stealing the style.
Doing a coolant change on the XC. Noted some weeping between the main coolant steel pipe and the rubber hose.
My Dad used to clean the steel, and put a thin smear of Blue Hylomar (the non setting stuff) on the joints on his various cars, over the years.
Never had a leaking issue, and never had problems with removing the hose x-years later.
Anyone have an opinion on steel/rubber interfacing?