Blowing coolant hoses

mapaed850 · Post by **mapaed850** » 10 Nov 2009, 21:16

I have a 96 850 turbo and I've blown just about every coolant hose in the car including replacing a leaking radiator. Granted, smart folks would have replaced the hoses when the first one blew and not have waited for them all to blow on seperate occasions. I must be cheap or lazy or just not that smart. I have wised up and I am now replacing the last 3 hoses that I haven't already replaced. The lower radiator hose (which I tried to replace with the radiator change but was sent the wrong hose) and the two heater hoses. I thought I blew the lower radiator hose but found out it was the heater intake hose instead. I got the two heater hoses off and I'm hoping I have the skills to get the new ones back on when they arrive. Please wish me luck.
I guess my question is why does this car blow out so many coolant parts? Is this something Volvos are notorius for? Is there something that is making the cooling system over pressurized. Anything I can change? Or is this pretty normal for a 12 year car. I've had many of old cars and never had this many coolant system failures. Although this is the most advanced car I've owned.

Post by **FlyingVolvo** » 10 Nov 2009, 21:59

If they were all the original hoses, it's astounding they didn't die sooner. The car didn't get badly overheated when those incidents happened, did it? If so, you may be looking at head gasket problems... hopefully this isn't the case!

Old hoses will get harder will crack, leading to problems like that. Good rule of thumb... if one breaks, replace them all.

The system shouldn't be over-pressurized unless it's overfilled. Make sure your thermostat and engine coolant temp sensor are good too.

Replacing all my hoses with silicone is in my plans for the future...

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 10 Nov 2009, 22:06

Actually they aren't at all hard on hoses - no worse than anything else if the rest of the system is OK.

I have changed the upper and lower radiator hoses, I got screwed by a lower hose from FCP that didn't fit - Nick made it right money wise but it was a pain in the butt.

From the grim aftermath pictures I have seen, avoid the URO branded hoses. Even going to the local auto parts store and getting Gates hoses is a much better choice.

I think a lot of it depends on the environment the car is in to begin with, Phoenix is tough on rubber as I can attest to from the Porsche I bought there, but neglected coolant can be equally as toxic to the system.

I wish I could give you pointers on the heater hoses but I have only had to mess with them at the firewall connections when I changed out the heater core on the '94.

...Lee

mapaed850 · Post by **mapaed850** » 10 Nov 2009, 22:33

I imagine they were original hoses. No overheating. That low coolant light gives a good warning before damage is done. At least with the small leaks I had. Not sure it would do much good with a catastrophic leak (like the guy whose lower hose blew off the radiator).
I imagine the hoses should go on okay. I removed the air filter box and battery to get more room. I'm a little scared to remove the rest of the air intake hose because the clamp seems far enough back behind the engine it may be a PITA to get back on. I might have to risk it though.

Post by **jblackburn** » 10 Nov 2009, 23:05

I blew all 4 at different times on my 20-year old Honda. I'm pretty sure they were all still original. Hoses, belts, etc should all be replaced every couple years as preventative maintenance. I changed my 2 main radiator hoses on my Volvo when I (finally) noticed a small leak in the bottom one - I couldn't figure out where I was slowly losing coolant from until I left it idling one day while I ran inside to get something, and noticed a small puncture that apparently only leaked under pressure.

The air intake hose isn't too bad to get back on. I took mine out to get to the blasted air pump. It helps if you have someone with small hands, I've had my girlfriend help on numerous occasions in tight places =P

Btw, while you're at it, if you have a grey expansion cap tank, or an older-looking green one, order a new one. I had a green one that cracked in half for no apparent reason.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 10 Nov 2009, 23:06

I'm a little scared to remove the rest of the air intake hose because the clamp seems far enough back behind the engine it may be a PITA to get back on. I might have to risk it though.

Be bold.

You can't screw up that bad and if you do we will try to help you out.

...Lee