What is the Radiator Hose all about?

Radiator/cooling system hoses are an important part of your car's cooling system, which is designed to keep the engine from overheating. When your car’s engine is running it creates heat. The radiator/cooling system hoses carry coolant through the radiator and back through the engine to keep it operating at an optimal temperature. There are mulitple hoses in a given system. An upper hose connects the top of the radiator to the top of the engine. A lower hose connects the bottom of the radiator to the water pump of the engine, which keeps coolant flowing through the system.

Keep in mind:

If a radiator/cooling system hose bursts or leaks, the engine will not get the proper amount of coolant and will overheat, possibly causing severe damage. The hoses are made of rubber, so It is common for them to crack and weaken over time and because of the high temperature in the engine compartment.

How it's done:

• Pressure check cooling system for leaks.
• Remove and replace the hose that is leaking or blown.
• Fill radiator with the proper mixture of 50/50 coolant.
• Bleed the cooling system.
• Re-check for any leaks.

Our recommendation:

It is a good idea to replace the hoses every 5 years or 40,000 miles. If you see coolant (red, yellow or green fluid) on your driveway get the car inspected for leaks. If you suspect a leak, do not delay repair. Driving with leaking hoses can cause severe damage to the engine.

What common symptoms indicate you may need to replace the Radiator Hose?

• AC or heater is not working well.
• Coolant is leaking.
• Steam coming out of the engine compartment.
• Bulges or cracks in radiator hose(s)

How important is this service?

It is important to replace worn or leaking hoses as preventative maintenance to prevent a future failure of these hoses where they may burst, causing engine overheating.