Radiator & hoses replacement as preventive maintenance

Hello,

I have a 2002 Tacoma TRD, 4WD, 3.4L, 180k miles, and I am the original owner. The truck is no longer a daily driver and only gets driven around 2k miles per year for the last decade (I have a work vehicle). I’d like to keep the truck another few years (or forever) and have been considering whether it’s worth it to replace all the radiator hoses, heater hoses, radiator, thermostat, and maybe the heater valve (whatever it’s called) as a preventive measure. The thermostat and two radiator hoses were replaced about 11 years ago, but everything else is original. There are no issues with these items, no leaks, and I cannot see anything wrong with these items upon inspection. While the truck is mostly driven locally, I’d prefer not to have an issue while on a trail in the summer. I’d be doing the work myself, but I’d like some opinions on whether these items are worth replacing at this point. Also, how many heater hoses are there and how bad is it to replace them all? I only saw 3 or 4 heater hoses during a quick look, but have read there are 9 coolant hoses total.

Thanks!

 

Welcome aboard new member
If it ain't broken don't fix it.

 

How do the ends of the hoses look? Cracked and deformed from their clamps? Do they seem degraded in any other way?

Since they're something that can lead to being stranded and other, bigger problems, I would lean toward replacement. They're not that complicated to replace either.

 

The ends of the hoses look good. No cracks or degradation that I can see. I’m wondering how bad the heater hoses are to replace in particular.

 

Are these the original Hoses ??

Heater hoses can be a pain but not impossible only because of the access.

Then my being a pain might be your next to impossible.

The fun one is under the throttle body The hose to the IAC

 

The heater hoses are original. The two radiator hoses were replaced about 11 years ago.

 

O.E. hoses seem to last forever, on my 2000 Tacoma they look like new. Replacement radiators and heater control valves can be of varied unknown quality. If everything looks good and the antifreeze was changed regularly the only thing I’d change is the thermostat.

 

Well everything does appear to be in good condition. I didn’t really get a good look at the bypass hose near the alternator and oil filter area (maybe removing the skid plate will help), but everything up top looks almost as good as the day I bought the truck in 2002. Regarding hoses, I’ve only had one small hose up top get cracked and need replacing. Otherwise I replaced the ATF hoses when installing an ATF cooler and they looked a little worn/old. So beginning to think just replace the thermostat, do a flush and refill, and let it go.

 

If they look good and ( very important) you did the antifreeze changes regularly you should be good.

 

Examine closely and run your fingers around them feeling for cracks, blistering and soft spots.
If none found you are ok.

 

And if the radiator breaks when you're on the trail, good luck!

Why are you going to replace the thermostat? If it's not overheating (or underheating) there's no need to. If the thermostat goes belly-up while you're on the trail, it's not a catastrophe. Just continue your trip and replace it when you get home.

 

If I’m not mistaken the majority of thermostat failures involve failing to open completely ......leading to overheating and possibly catastrophic failure.

 

If the radiator breaks Fix it it would not by the first time one of mine failed miles from a dirt road.

 

Replace the radiator, radiator hoses, and thermostat as preventative maintenance. Like @skeezix mentioned, a broken radiator can leave you stranded. I wouldn't mess with the heater valve or heater core lines. If the heater valve ever breaks, that's when you replace it. If a heater hose springs a leak, some duct tape wrapped around the hose will most likely allow you to limp out of Bum F*ck Egypt to where you can fix it. These radiators are made of plastic and the plastic ages and gets brittle over all the heating and cooling cycles and they can fail fairly dramatically. If you haven't bypassed the trans cooler in the bottom of the radiator, renewing your radiator is some insurance from being a victim of a trans cooler failure (Pink Milkshake).

https://www.youtube.com/embed/2nVbwe2t2T8

 

[QUOTE="Timmah!, post: 23093545, member: 179385.................These radiators are made of plastic and the plastic ages and gets brittle over all the heating and cooling cycles and they can fail fairly dramatically.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/2nVbwe2t2T8[/QUOTE]

Good point on the old radiator.....my sons old Celica GT @ 20 years and 150K had his plastic radiator fail dramatically blowing out a chuck of the plastic top.

............I never saw a copper radiator fail like that.

 

I'd replace them once you start noticing small leaks and/or the hoses becoming hardened and brittle..

Try doing one of these inspection tests once every year or 6 months

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMEYRJMWaaA