When to replace radiator hoses?
- Thread starter GemStater
- Start date
CleanSump
Site Donor 2026
Gates for American cars were always like that. You trimmed to fit.
A 26 year old vehicle will probably need a lot more replaced than the hoses. Hard metal lines can corrode. etc.
The best idea is to sell it to CoPart and get a newer vehicle. It will cost more to repair this one than its worth. I can imagine it needs all kinds of things.
The best idea is to sell it to CoPart and get a newer vehicle. It will cost more to repair this one than its worth. I can imagine it needs all kinds of things.
33yrs and still going strong.
OG Hoses...original Nissan everything pretty much. Just a few headlight bulbs is all. 20 years of ownership and 100,00kms =~$6K'ish including purchase price. They don't make cars to last like this anymore.
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My Dad owned it. My brother owned it. I initially declined buying it because I knew it would need some work. That said, not from the rust belt, the body and paint is in great shape and the A/C blows ice cold. Wish I could say that about my 2006 Honda Accord. Not only that, there is a guy in the Dodge forum who has a 2002 Dodge Dakota with 4.7L., and 313k miles on it. There's life left in this. The efforts are worth while.
Look at the gentleman above with the Sentra. Note the part about original Nissan parts. That type of attention to the quality of what goes on the car is a big reason it is still running. If you are going through the cooling system for reliability, use the original hoses. They will fit properly and then you will know that at least with respect to that aspect of the vehicle, it is close-the-hood style reliability.My Dad owned it. My brother owned it. I initially declined buying it because I knew it would need some work. That said, not from the rust belt, the body and paint is in great shape and the A/C blows ice cold. Wish I could say that about my 2006 Honda Accord. Not only that, there is a guy in the Dodge forum who has a 2002 Dodge Dakota with 4.7L., and 313k miles on it. There's life left in this. The efforts are worth while.
Sorry, that still looks like crap to me. Looks like Stevie Wonder cut it at the factory. No way that the original hose looks like that.
CleanSump
Site Donor 2026
I quessed correctly that you were from New England when I read your post.
Cars age much more gracefully in the West Coast. No rust.
laughable quality.. yup had gates hoses the last couple of years like that.. NEVER installed them, went with the OEM instead. Luckily they were still available from OEM (Toyota)
Still have the factory hoses on our 2000 Dakota 3.9. Bottom hose was a trick to stop leaking since someone replaced the constant tension with a worm clamp. Went to PNP and got a constant tension which fixed it. At 115k probably stick with them unless the youngest decides to take it out of state.
Mine on the B13 are the originals. Never been changed. Original upper/lower still in great shape. The cooling sytem on these things are incredibly robust. Very low stress engine, iron block, big rad for a 1.6L, they're darn near impossible to overheat unless completely maltreated. I've done 3 ATF drain and fills since '06, usually every 50,000kms. Steady diet of vanilla Mobil 1 5W-30, a few runs of 0W-30 AFE during colder winters. Always 91 octane for long hot road trips. There's no tach in it but 75-80mph for hours is effortless, I'm guessing 3300rpm's at that speed. I'm constantly looking for a '93 SE-R with the legendary SR20DE that's been preserved and relatively local. So far they've been unicorns save for the ultra low mile one that sold on BaT for $33.5K lol. https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1992-nissan-sentra-se-r-9/
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