Warning, Replace your cooling system hoses ASAP

Post by **rspi** » 28 Oct 2013, 16:51

Just a friendly warning for all to replace ALL of your cooling system hoses ASAP. Most of our cars are over 15 years old and many have original hoses still installed. You should replace these hoses that are pending failure at any time. If one of your coolant system hoses fail, it will force all of your coolant out of the car within seconds, less than 1 minute later, your car motor WILL overheat and blow the head gasket. This will either send your car to the junk yard, or give you a timely workout replacing the head/head gasket. So, take my advise and replace every coolant hose under your hood that is older than 10 years old.

If your car is turbo, you have the following hoses:
1. Upper radiator - 1335433
2. Lower radiator - 9470409 / 6842428
3. Upper reservoir - 9135267
4. Lower reservoir - 6842894
5. Heater inlet - 9186849
6. Heater outlet - 9186847 / 3528275
7. Turbo supply - 6842190
8. Turbo outlet - 30713305
As a bonus, you should also replace the heater hose locking clips. If they fail, the hose will pop out and cause the loss of coolant, yes in seconds. - 3545662

Post by **Brucebo** » 28 Oct 2013, 17:19

FYI: We've owned 6 Volvos and we've never had a radiator hose fail. We have had two radiators fail and three overflow tanks fail. In all cases the plastic parts cracked and started to leak. For the radiators it's the high pressure (passenger) side tank that eventually cracks. I've never had a Volvo radiator corrode through. The water bottles also eventually crack. Oh, what does corrode through though are the heater cores. I've had two of these fail. You start to smell waffles when you turn on the heat in the morning on your way to work.

Post by **rspi** » 28 Oct 2013, 17:57

This is NOT a Volvo issue, a automobile issue. People blow head gaskets in all kinds of cars due to coolant hose failures.

Post by **cn90** » 28 Oct 2013, 20:01

Thanks rspi for the reminder.

I have replaced #1-#4, and #7-#8.

I am watching the #5-#6 (heater hoses x2) very closely. I might replace these 2 hoses next summer (using erikv11 trick: cutting the metal pipes near heater core and by-pass the firewall coupling). It is getting cold now and I hate working on cars when it is cold.

Post by **rspi** » 28 Oct 2013, 20:18

LOL, I think Waltrip has the best prices on those OE hoses, just have no idea about their shipping cost.

Post by **cn90** » 28 Oct 2013, 21:42

Actually, If I replace the heater hoses, I will use the generic heater hoses running from:
- cabin area metal pipes (cut the pipes first)
- through firewall
- to engine

i.e., no coupler, just rubber hoses.

Post by **jblackburn** » 28 Oct 2013, 21:49

FYI: We've owned 6 Volvos and we've never had a radiator hose fail.

No one explained that to my car. I've had 4 let go - turbo, lower radiator, heater core hose (twice).

Same thing happened with older cars I'd had before that (before I knew better!)

It's an especially good idea with it getting colder outside for many of us.

Post by **cn90** » 28 Oct 2013, 22:03

1+,

Rubber hoses deteriorate with time/heat/mileage.
A general guideline is: 12-14y/130K miles.
These hoses are inexpensive (compared with engine overheat and rebuild).
People should treat cooling system hoses like spark plugs, tires. They have their service life.
After that it is Russian Roulette.

instarx · Post by **instarx** » 29 Oct 2013, 00:58

rspi wrote: ...it will force all of your coolant out of the car within seconds, less than 1 minute later, your car motor WILL overheat and blow the head gasket. This will either send your car to the junk yard, or ...

rspi, this strikes me as just too alarmist. Yes, its a good idea to replace hoses periodically, and thanks for the list of hoses - very useful. But if a coolant hose breaks you are unlikely to have blown head gasket and a junked car "less than 1 minute later". Capitalized WARNING and ASAP in the title like there is some newly discovered imminent danger? Please.

Oh, and look - you have a new video. Maybe I'm too cynical but I'm feeling manipulated.

Post by **cn90** » 29 Oct 2013, 05:53

Actually,

Coolant loss can be:
- Slow (happened to me, turned out a small crack under the reservoir).
- Massive, when the rad hose or turbo coolant hose bursts.

I have to agree with rspi that at this age/mileage, replace them all and be happy for the next 150K...