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When to replace radiator hoses???

Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2010 3:16 pm
by cptnsolo77
Its time for a coolant flush. While im in there I was thinking of replacing the upper & lower hoses as well. Any input guys? The Vibe has 92K. I know back in the day, if the hoses felt soft its time to change. Does that still hold true for modern cars?

Re: When to replace radiator hoses??? (cptnsolo77)

Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2010 4:09 pm
by star_deceiver
Quote, originally posted by cptnsolo77 » I know back in the day, if the hoses felt soft its time to change. Does that still hold true for modern cars?I don't see why not! But why then just replace the upper/lower rad hoses... don't forget the hoses to the heater core!

Re: When to replace radiator hoses??? (star_deceiver)

Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2010 2:18 pm
by jkm311
How difficult is this? I'm doing a coolant flush tomorrow, but it's my first one. Only 49k miles on my 2006 right now. Should I do them next flush? Seems early to replace them now.What's the earliest mileage/age of your Vibe anybody has needed to do this?

Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2010 2:18 am
by Water boy
For many years I did the upper and lower and heater every 50K or so. Then I extended it to 100K. Now.... I've extended it to the point right after I've gotten too lazy.We've always had high mileage cars so I don't know how to convert that to years.FWIW...not much help.

Re: When to replace radiator hoses??? (star_deceiver)

Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2010 2:18 am
by Ol' Timer
Quote, originally posted by star_deceiver » don't forget the hoses to the heater core!Which of the heater hoses coming out of the Vibe firewall is the Inlet Hose. The top one? Or the bottom one??

Re: When to replace radiator hoses??? (Ol' Timer)

Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2010 8:00 am
by jake75
Replace hoses? I forgot about that routine maintenance expense. One more reason I am glad I sold my 6 year old '03 Vibe and got an '09 in 1/09. I suspect age is as or more important than miles when it comes to those hoses.I suspect the modern hoses are better today. I had a 1968 Cadillac and had to replace all those hoses after 3 years. Of course in those days that was not a major expense.

Re: When to replace radiator hoses??? (cptnsolo77)

Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2010 9:02 am
by ColonelPanic
Still on the originals on my wife's '03... I need to give them a good look. Only low 60k miles on the car but a lot of years!

Re: When to replace radiator hoses??? (Ol' Timer)

Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2011 10:05 am
by mntn-biker
Anyone know if the top hose is the heater inlet hose?

Re: When to replace radiator hoses??? (mntn-biker)

Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2011 11:55 am
by Ol' Timer
Personally, I don't think it makes a difference. When I flushed out the old coolant, I flushed it from the top and then the bottom outlet. I now have just about 100K and I have no intention of replacing any of the hoses. The OE hoses are made/designed much better today. But I do inspect them, generally once (maybe twice) a year.

Re: When to replace radiator hoses??? (mntn-biker)

Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2011 11:50 pm
by keithvibe
top is inlethttp://madstyle1972.com/Repair...1.pdf

Re: When to replace radiator hoses??? (keithvibe)

Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 1:13 am
by Ol' Timer
Now we know. I hope by simply flushing this system out every four or five years will keep the heater core happy.