Time for Upper Radiator Hose replacement?
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Drifting
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Yakima WA
Time for Upper Radiator Hose replacement?
I noticed that my upper hose was leaking a bit at the intake to the manifold. I tightened the worm clamp really tight & the problem ceased, but got me to thinking. Should I go ahead & replace the hose? The hose is soft & easily squeezable to the grasp. Was this perhaps a sign that it's time to replace it altogether?
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Re: Time for Upper Radiator Hose replacement? (dbwade36)
Leak around the t housing doesn't mean bad hose...but soft might
I replace ALL hoses every 4 years....if top hose is bad, can lower and heater hoses be far behind?
I do lots of long distance driving and do a lot of maintenance things to promote peace of mind and no problems.
I replace ALL hoses every 4 years....if top hose is bad, can lower and heater hoses be far behind?
I do lots of long distance driving and do a lot of maintenance things to promote peace of mind and no problems.
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Drifting
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From: Yakima WA
Re: Time for Upper Radiator Hose replacement? (jackdaroofer)
I will replace it then. It is only about $9 at Kragen for the hose. I may do the others too. Also, how much coolant can I expect to dump when I pull the upper hose? When I go to replace the lost fluid, do I just run the car w/rad cap off until stat opens, them add coolant back to full?
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Re: Time for Upper Radiator Hose replacement? (dbwade36)
We are getting a little heavy now :D
If you siphon off some coolant to get the level down below the thermo housing, you won't "dump" any. Assuming you siphon it into a bucket
And you can even por it back into the radiator...
But....maybe it is none of my business,,,but coolant in these things (non Dex cool) should be changed every two years. Again, I am not trying to be critical, but 50 t0 $ 75 invested in new hoses and new coolant could save you a lot of $ and aggravation down the road
Just my HO :D
If you siphon off some coolant to get the level down below the thermo housing, you won't "dump" any. Assuming you siphon it into a bucket
And you can even por it back into the radiator...
But....maybe it is none of my business,,,but coolant in these things (non Dex cool) should be changed every two years. Again, I am not trying to be critical, but 50 t0 $ 75 invested in new hoses and new coolant could save you a lot of $ and aggravation down the road
Just my HO :D
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Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Boise ID
Re: Time for Upper Radiator Hose replacement? (dbwade36)
"I will replace it then. It is only about $9 at Kragen for the hose."
Beware of the cheaper belts! I put one on and it came feeling soft and it would aways leak at the thermo housing :( Put a Gates belt on and the problem was solved :D
Beware of the cheaper belts! I put one on and it came feeling soft and it would aways leak at the thermo housing :( Put a Gates belt on and the problem was solved :D
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Drifting
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From: Yakima WA
Re: Time for Upper Radiator Hose replacement? (87SAM)
87SAM- I think you meant HOSES, but I got the picture. As to the coolant. I just had the whole system flushed & refilled about a month ago. I do try to take my vette upkeep pretty seriously. I will look into the "better" hoses though, if the ones you get from the local autoparts stores suck. Anyone had any problems w/hoses from parts stores? Should I just go through the dealer instead?
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Re: Time for Upper Radiator Hose replacement? (dbwade36)
Got my hoses from www.rockauto.com they are GM parts.
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Drifting
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From: Minneapolis MN
Re: Time for Upper Radiator Hose replacement? (dbwade36)
My upper hose finally started weeping around 45k miles. You might lose a little coolant, but nothing significant. I didn't drain anything. I also went with a GM hose, wouldn't trust anything else! :)
