Should I replace Coolant Hoses?

[artbuc]

1999 Toyota Avalon - 14 years old with 120k miles.

I replaced upper and lower radiator hoses a couple years ago. Originals looked like they could last forever. Replaced main by-pass hose this year only because I had the intake manifold off for some other work. Again, the original by-pass hose looked like it would last forever. I am wondering if I should replace my heater hoses and two coolant hoses going to/from the IAC valve. They look and feel perfectly ok but I don't want to have a break-down. These hoses have much smaller diameters and I assume they would last even longer than the larger radiator & by-pass hoses. When I started driving in 1967, heater hose failures were common. However, rubber products today are so much better and seem to be designed to last the life of the car. These hoses are not cheap but I do not mind spending the money. I just do not want to waste money doing unnecessary preventive maintenance. Thanks.

 

[The_Jeff]

Leave them alone!

They might be pre-formed so you'd get more kinks with universal hose.

Aftermarket hose is thinner and cheezier, IMO.

I guess you could get OE stuff.

Every car is different; spilling oil on the outside of a hose kills its life quickly.

I've cut open hoses that are cracked looking on the outside and they're fine inside.

Gooey, however, especially under clamps, you want to change asap!!!

 

[artbuc]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Leave them alone!

They might be pre-formed so you'd get more kinks with universal hose.

Aftermarket hose is thinner and cheezier, IMO.

I guess you could get OE stuff.

Every car is different; spilling oil on the outside of a hose kills its life quickly.

I've cut open hoses that are cracked looking on the outside and they're fine inside.

Gooey, however, especially under clamps, you want to change asap!!!


Thanks. In this application I would only buy factory parts.

 

[SLCraig]

I would say its probably unnecessary.
You are right, they do last a long time these days.
I have myself personally never replaced a heater hose, only upper and lower, and only once. (Because I replaced the rad)

 

[kschachn]

Toyota sells great OEM hoses I must say. I replaced all of them on my Sienna after 12 years just because it had been 12 years. That seemed long enough but like you observed, they still looked OK. I bought OEM hoses and clamps for both my Toyotas.

The Toyota OEM hoses are thinner than aftermarket by the way (I helped a neighbor with his Camry where he had bought hoses at NAPA). This is important if you buy new spring clamps, or wish to reuse the old ones. They won't fit on some aftermarket hoses.

 

[Ducked]

My rad top and bottom hoses had gone "crunchy" (Dunno how old they are but the car is 1986).

I rubbed sunflower oil on the outside.

The crunchiness is gone and they havn't (yet) gone gooey.

YMMV, of course.

 

[Kuato]

Almost the same pressure exists in your heater hoses as in the upper/lower radiator hoses....I generally change mine at the same time.

 

[KrisZ]

I would leave them alone unless you're itching to do some work on the car and that's the only "issue" that you can come up with

 

[zzyzzx]

These hoses seem to outlast engines these days. I never replace them unless they are bad.

 

[supton]

What changed, and when? Used to be they wore out, age/heat/something. Am curious, as today there can be a lot of hoses--my truck has an ATF warmer, with these small hoses running down to the transmission. And I presume hoses going elsewhere.

 

[artbuc]

Originally Posted By: KrisZ
I would leave them alone unless you're itching to do some work on the car and that's the only "issue" that you can come up with

Have you been talking with my wife??

 

[KrisZ]

Originally Posted By: artbuc
Originally Posted By: KrisZ
I would leave them alone unless you're itching to do some work on the car and that's the only "issue" that you can come up with

Have you been talking with my wife??

No, but my wife is the same. She knows that I like working on cars and often thinks that I imagine problems just to tinker around. She’s on to me…

 

[Whimsey]

My 1996 Contour still has the factory hoses. It'll be 18 years old with ~100,000 miles on it in December. I have them checked with my annual inspection for vacation. My trusted mechanic advises to leave them if there are no signs of deterioration. His experience is usually factory hoses are better quality than aftermarket. The same applies to my 12 year old F150. Perhaps changing the coolant in a timely fashion helps with extending the life of the factory hoses.

Whimsey

 

[hattaresguy]

These days hoses tend not to blow like in the past. I'd leave them until they start to show signs of issues.

 

[Cujet]

My 2003 Jaguar X-Type recently blew a top hose. I suppose the hose life depends on the materials. European rubber and plastics seem to have lifespan issues.

 

[zzyzzx]

Originally Posted By: supton
What changed, and when? Used to be they wore out, age/heat/something. Am curious, as today there can be a lot of hoses--my truck has an ATF warmer, with these small hoses running down to the transmission. And I presume hoses going elsewhere.


I think what has changed is that the hoses are made pre-formed. The old straight hoses that you used to bend would always break at the bends. Sometimes they would only last a month or two.