Home
Cooling System
FAQ's
ANSWER:
If you want to perform maintenance and reduce the risk of a breakdown
it is suggested they be replaced every four years. The risk of failure
rises sharply after this point. The upper radiator hose is almost always
the first to fail because it is usually smaller in diameter and is
subjected to the most heat. The heater hoses seem to be the most rugged.
Most cars under 90,000 miles still have the original heater hoses, but
your pushing your luck.
Unfortunately on today's newer vehicles this can be expensive. Upper and
lower radiator hoses can require removal of other components making the
labor expensive and the hoses themselves can be extremely expensive. The
heater hoses can be several different pieces all over the engine, have to
be ordered from a dealership and be very labor intensive also.
On a-lot of vehicles it is not too expensive to change the hoses but it
would probably save you a few dollars in labor and a bunch of time if you
had the hoses replaced when you car is already in a repair facility for
other work. It could save you a-lot of time if the shop has to order any
hoses from the dealership and you car is already there. If you break down
somewhere far from home this could be a disaster if you lost your car for
days because of a hose.
