- Jun 30, 2004
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I once just let the mechanic (my now-retired "Master Mechanic") advise me when I needed to replace radiator hoses, and my last hose replacement occurred at a crisis moment when my water-pump froze and my radiator was damaged. That was twelve years ago, but the car has been driven only 29,000 miles since then. Available wisdom says to replace the hoses once every 5 years or 60,000 miles, and I believe the time-span is not the critical factor: I think there is an assumption there that people will drive about 12,000 miles per year. We put about 3,000 miles per year on each of our vehicles.
The cooling system was flushed about that time, also. Additional repairs a couple years later would've mandated replacement of anti-freeze. But in all, we're at most talking about antifreeze and hoses that are at MOST 29,000 miles old, but over a span of 12 years.
I have ordered a new set of DAYCO hoses through RockAuto -- to arrive on Wednesday three days from now. I've stockpiled three gallons of 50-50 antifreeze and six gallons of distilled water (@ $0.95 / gallon). I have a new 170F Thermostat ready, a new $2 radiator-drain petcock, and a set of new hose-band-clamps.
The longest of the two major radiator hoses has its bottom radiator connection in a very tight place. It will be a lot of extra work to remove that connection, and a bit troublesome to reconnect a stiff new hose. I've researched some options, like removal of the lower radiator fan shroud -- a spring clip on either side and a lock at the bottom. I should be able to slide this lower shroud around enough to make the hose connection more accessible (and visible!)
In 2017, the Master Mechanic checked the anti-freeze and his notes say that it was "OK". But because of other repairs this year, the cooling system needed topping up, so a different brand of ethylene glycol antifreeze was added to the original stuff provided through the Master Mechanic. This would possibly compromise any anti-corrosion additives in the original antifreeze. And when I warm up the car with the radiator cap removed, I can see powdery residue occasionally churning in the fluid.
I think it's time for a flush. Wisdom about flushing the radiator says that it is convenient to replace the hoses (obviously). There is a suggestion that the old hoses might hold some leftover contamination, but this seems to be a cautionary afterthought of less consequence.
It's been a rough summer renewing our two vehicles. I've "suspended" the repair-shop replacement for the retired Master Mechanic. I cannot trust those people to do anything to my vehicle without screwing up something else, so I'm taking over oil changes, radiator flushes, and other maintenance functions until I can find a repair outfit that doesn't promote unnecessary labor-intensive repairs that can wait, or who lie to the customer about damages they did under warranty so the customer will pay more. I cannot abide by any of that S***.
There are no cracks or deterioration on the hose ends for my radiator hoses. There is no swelling around the flange lips of the hose fittings. There are no cracks or bulges in the hoses. There are no "soft spots".
What would you do?
1) Replace ALL of the hoses, and go through the misery of dealing with the bottom connection of the long radiator hose.
2) Replace all the hoses EXCEPT for the long radiator hose, and save it for next year. [I won't have to "flush" the radiator next year, but only need to replace the radiator fluid with the same brand and formulation.]
3) Defer ALL hose replacements for one year, but flush the radiator NOW.
Also, I'm a bit skittish about radiator additives, and I recoil at the idea of putting a "T" fitting into the hose line to "back-flush" a cooling system. I once blew a head gasket that way, ending in an engine overhaul. Just the idea of using Prestone Radiator Flush and Cleaner causes me some concern.
There are no pressure leaks in the system. There is no indication of anything suggesting a head gasket leak. The car "gits up and goes" -- never overheats. If I use the Prestone, I intend to do the "10-minute flush" -- running the car in place, quickly removing the Prestone/distilled-water mix after cool-down, replacing with more distilled water and then putting in the 50-50 antifreeze.
The cooling system was flushed about that time, also. Additional repairs a couple years later would've mandated replacement of anti-freeze. But in all, we're at most talking about antifreeze and hoses that are at MOST 29,000 miles old, but over a span of 12 years.
I have ordered a new set of DAYCO hoses through RockAuto -- to arrive on Wednesday three days from now. I've stockpiled three gallons of 50-50 antifreeze and six gallons of distilled water (@ $0.95 / gallon). I have a new 170F Thermostat ready, a new $2 radiator-drain petcock, and a set of new hose-band-clamps.
The longest of the two major radiator hoses has its bottom radiator connection in a very tight place. It will be a lot of extra work to remove that connection, and a bit troublesome to reconnect a stiff new hose. I've researched some options, like removal of the lower radiator fan shroud -- a spring clip on either side and a lock at the bottom. I should be able to slide this lower shroud around enough to make the hose connection more accessible (and visible!)
In 2017, the Master Mechanic checked the anti-freeze and his notes say that it was "OK". But because of other repairs this year, the cooling system needed topping up, so a different brand of ethylene glycol antifreeze was added to the original stuff provided through the Master Mechanic. This would possibly compromise any anti-corrosion additives in the original antifreeze. And when I warm up the car with the radiator cap removed, I can see powdery residue occasionally churning in the fluid.
I think it's time for a flush. Wisdom about flushing the radiator says that it is convenient to replace the hoses (obviously). There is a suggestion that the old hoses might hold some leftover contamination, but this seems to be a cautionary afterthought of less consequence.
It's been a rough summer renewing our two vehicles. I've "suspended" the repair-shop replacement for the retired Master Mechanic. I cannot trust those people to do anything to my vehicle without screwing up something else, so I'm taking over oil changes, radiator flushes, and other maintenance functions until I can find a repair outfit that doesn't promote unnecessary labor-intensive repairs that can wait, or who lie to the customer about damages they did under warranty so the customer will pay more. I cannot abide by any of that S***.
There are no cracks or deterioration on the hose ends for my radiator hoses. There is no swelling around the flange lips of the hose fittings. There are no cracks or bulges in the hoses. There are no "soft spots".
What would you do?
1) Replace ALL of the hoses, and go through the misery of dealing with the bottom connection of the long radiator hose.
2) Replace all the hoses EXCEPT for the long radiator hose, and save it for next year. [I won't have to "flush" the radiator next year, but only need to replace the radiator fluid with the same brand and formulation.]
3) Defer ALL hose replacements for one year, but flush the radiator NOW.
Also, I'm a bit skittish about radiator additives, and I recoil at the idea of putting a "T" fitting into the hose line to "back-flush" a cooling system. I once blew a head gasket that way, ending in an engine overhaul. Just the idea of using Prestone Radiator Flush and Cleaner causes me some concern.
There are no pressure leaks in the system. There is no indication of anything suggesting a head gasket leak. The car "gits up and goes" -- never overheats. If I use the Prestone, I intend to do the "10-minute flush" -- running the car in place, quickly removing the Prestone/distilled-water mix after cool-down, replacing with more distilled water and then putting in the 50-50 antifreeze.
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