How long do coolant hoses last?

[IslandTractor]

Naaa... that's only on German cars :laughing:

Especially the diesels!:thumbsup:

 

[Diamondpilot]

My advice is to not worry about the 'life' of the hoses that you have on your Jag... go ahead and replace the hoses (AND BELTS) when you flush your cooling system.

Compared to the inconvenience, and possibly expense related to a failed hose or belt, as well as the value of your car, good maintenance makes good sense. They always fail at the most opportune time. There is no such thing as 'over maintenance'.

You can mark me down as one that is overly conscientious about maintenance. I'm the same way about oil, grease, filter changes, and tires.

I agree. If you have any doubt just change them.

Chris

 

[houstonscott]

Coolant every two years, hoses every four years. You'll never be down when you need the tractor. HS

 

[murphy1244]

Coolant every two years, hoses every four years. You'll never be down when you need the tractor. HS

No but you will be broke and diesel poor.

 

[IslandTractor]

No but you will be broke and diesel poor.

And don't forget the opportunity to break something (other than your knuckles) when doing unnecessary maintenance. Murphy's Law comes into play.

 

[bdog]

My 2007 peterbilt with 850k miles blew three coolant hoses in one month earlier this year. I replaced them all. Took two days as their are miles of them for the heater in the cab, sleeper, tranny cooler, etc. Most of them seemed to be in pretty poor shape when I took them off. Don't know if it was the fact they were nine years old or the miles.

 

[4570Man]

I have never changed heater hoses. I have some that are potentially as old as 1994, but I don't know that. I have some that are at least 15 years old. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[houstonscott]

And don't forget the opportunity to break something (other than your knuckles) when doing unnecessary maintenance. Murphy's Law comes into play.

If you have aluminum radiators you need to change coolant every two years. Coolant has many additives to preserve the interior passages in the engine head and the radiator, they only are active for about two years. If you are a fumble bunny and can't get it right have it done for you... HS

 

[daugen]

To keep parts like new, I'm sure HS's approach is sound, and likely called for, in the manual. My new to me car has a requirement I change the brake fluid
every two years. That's an expensive job, flushing, test driving it afterwards, lot of time involved.
I'd never do it, but I am having it done once, now, to set a baseline. Many of the newer fluids are synthetic and seem to last longer.

If an aluminum radiator is subject to electrolysis, through chemical reactions, that's not good. Need to flush that corrosive stuff out, and yes, I can understand how additive "packs" can wear out. Why not dump some refresher chemicals in at two years, and then flush every third time or 100,000 miles, whichever is first.
The reality is folks don't do this level of maintenance normally. With cars, most folks don't maintain them very well and drive them until something breaks.
They don't understand they have an asset they need to maintain to not only ensure good operation but also financial value.

I don't know how well my car was maintained, so I have to assume nothing and start from scratch with baselines. And then do maintenance from there on out, guided by the owner's manual. Guided...I am not changing my brake fluid every two years. I'd frankly be surprised if it's been changed more than once in the last 12 years.
And water hoses, I have to assume no one did any preemptive work there.

are there any really good brands of water hose? Anyone know this market? I know what brands of oil filters and air filters I want to use because of research, but
there isn't much "knowledge" out there on water hoses. And we have all seen folks by the roadside with hoods up and steam coming out. My goal is for that to not be me.

 

[IslandTractor]

If you have aluminum radiators you need to change coolant every two years. Coolant has many additives to preserve the interior passages in the engine head and the radiator, they only are active for about two years. If you are a fumble bunny and can't get it right have it done for you... HS

Agree but most radiators don't require removal of hoses to flush and change coolant. Fluids can be changed and radiators flushed without replacing or even disturbing hoses.