Radiator Hose Life ?

I have 100K - just wondering when I should change my radiator hoses - thinking of these

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HPS-57-1314...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

 

honestly. there was 260k on mine when i changed them. My fathers 06 corolla has 600k+ on the originals. just keep an eye on them and make sure they look good and don't collapse on them selves.

 

If they are collapsing it's usually a sign of a bad radiator cap.

 

It's not really a wear item, so it's more about age than milaege. I usually replace them if they're over ten years old.

 

Thanks guys - I thought they would look good when I opened my hood but 200 - 600K - guess I'll save the $114 for quite a while.

 

Grasp your hand around them and squeeze them. If they are spongy and not rubbery, then they should be replaced. It really depends on the part of the country that you live in. Mine haven't lasted more than 4 years before failures, but I live in a very hot and dry climate.

 

You can get both hoses for $30. Pretty cheap insurance. That being said, I replaced mine at 100K and they looked real good. I've kept them as back ups.

 

Thanks for the advise - I have enjoyed grasping them with my hand around them and squeeze them. I do enjoy them if they are spongy and not rubbery. Thanks again for your suggestion.

 

^ $30 ain't bad. Like you said, cheap insurance. You don't want to rupture one on a long trip, then you are broken down.

 

Are we talking about the same thing?

 

$114 VS $30 - some difference - pretty cheap insurance VS pretty.

 

Personally speaking here I enjoy grasping a nice hard hose over the spongy kinds.

Sounds like the hoses he is grabbing need some viagra to get them hard again.

 

Also on Amazon. Multiple colors. I have black.

 

I bought mine from Rock Auto, I think the upper was about $10 and the lower about $12. Both are Gates.

 

At $40 a pop, the hoses might be cheaper

 

Since you have them do you now feel they were worth the investment over say the Gates ???? Thanks.

 

It does no good to only replace the top and bottom radiator hoses. There are multiple heater hoses and if any one hose is going bad then chances are good all of them are close. If any of them break on you the result is exactly the same. I'm coming up on 10 years later this month with 181,000 miles. All of mine are still good. I don't plan to replace them until I really need to. The radiator hoses are easy, the heater hoses are going to be a bit more difficult and I don't want to do that job until it really needs it.

 

How R U going 2 determine when to replace the heater hoses ? Thanks.

 

I always replace all coolant hoses with OE hoses.

Timing is when a water pump fails or radiator needs replacing. Even if they still feel good.

Haven't been left steaming on the side of the road yet.

 

I guess it's possible, but I have never had a heater hose rupture, I HAVE had an upper radiator hose rupture though.