Changing Coolant hoses

[lithiumus]

I had a coolant hose burst on me last week. I was initially upset as I remembered Autowave changing my hoses when I got my clutch done. After pulling up the invoices, I realized that only the 2 main hoses to the engine were changed and none of the other hoses.

I ended up buying jugs of water to put in the coolant tank and was able to limp home with multiple stops / refills and never letting the temp needle get much over 1/2 way.

I found that it was he little 4” hose that connects the solid pipe to the oil cooler. I ended up ordering both oil cooler pipes since I was down there anyway. I jacked up the car and removed the passenger rear wheel to gain access to the 2 pipes. I had to use various extended needle nose pliers to get the clamps off. Pulling off the ruptured hose was easy since I just used a set of pliers and didn’t care about damage but installing these 2 hoses esp. the smaller one was a real pain the the ass! The silicone lubricant helped but you still need a lot of strength to get the hoses on.

Hose #1

Trust me, hose #2, which I also replaced, is nowhere near that long! The diagram looks easy, but crawl under the car and have a REAL look!

It’s still not on 100% and I’ve given up as I don’t have the strength or will power to edge these hoses 1mm more! The gap between the smaller hose is only 1” so fitting a 4” rubber hose meant sliding down one side, bending and forcing it to mate with the other and slide back. I still need to move it about 1cm more but “I just can’t get more power captain!” I’m spent!

I’ve clamped the hoses and I’m going to have someone finish it off. My suggestion is that during an oil change, tranny work, drive shaft changes, etc to remove the oil cooler / oil filter and fit the hoses first. Then install and slide the short hose on and then secure the other hose.

When I do my timing belt next year, I’ll finish off the rest of the 18 hoses in the system (minus the 2 oil cooler and 2 main hoses) I’ll likely get an entire package of 22 hoses just in case as these are probably the likely ones to fail first.

I'll post a pic of the busted hose tonight right next to hose #2 that I've preventatively replaced.

 

[Daedalus]

What really helps is to stretch out the hoses a bit before putting them on. Just slide them over your needle nose pliers and pull the pliers apart. You can go up to about 8 lbs of force on those 2 cooler hoses to match what they see during normal operation @ ~15psi. Larger hoses can go much higher. Just make sure your pliers are rounded with no sharp edges on the outside.
If you want to save a few bucks leave out the overflow hose on the coolant tank. It's never under pressure and won't fail. Even if it did it wouldn't cause an overheat.
Other hoses that are a PITA are the ones in the front of the car going into the heater and behind the battery, and the ones under the car.

 

[Russ]

A heat gun works wonders getting the hoses off and on.

 

[Larry Bastanza]

Sorry to hear about your incident, as well as the PITA hose change. Trust me I know how much of a pain this is. My first question is do you have headers? Header remove the heat shields from the exhaust and this has a major effect on the oil cooler hoses. They are just under the rear header.

When folks come to me and I insist on changing ALL hoses, some at first are taken back, but.... I do not want the car back for a hose I did not change, and the cost of a possible tow, or what you went through is just not worth it IMO.

For future reference if you remove the heat shield from the right inner CV joint you get better access to the short hose, still a pain, but better. And removing the oil cooler pedestal is a must, so get a new "8" gasket for that. I do one hose at a time so the oil cooler/oil filter assy is not dangling by the oil pressure sender wire.

If you use a lot of silicone grease the hoses are not too bad. This is not the place to go light on the silicone. A good set of mechanics gloves have no better use then this job too.

BTW, Daedalus, I here what you are saying about the needle nose stretch idea, but after too many to count, and many times trying, no dice for me. These hoses, especially new are pretty strong and thick walled, I have not had one spread enough using that method to make a difference, silicone grease, from the swimming pool supply works wonders.

HTH,
LarryB

 

[Daedalus]

Hmmm. I swear it made difference to me. I did this job recently (having ordered the "Bastanza coolant hose kit" from Ray Laks :wink. The first 10 or so hoses I was using only silicone lube slathered on with a Q-tip and having a hell of a time. After the first 10 I started stretching them with pliers prior to installation and the difference seemed to be night and day. Before stretching them I wasn't able to get the hoses on all the way, like Lithiumus, but after I could snug up each one to their original locations. Maybe subconsciously I was using more silicone with the stretched ones?

 

[Larry Bastanza]

Maybe, I just tried it a few times and it seemed to me to not help.

Russ, as mentioned above, has had great luck with the heat gun, and since I just acquired a nice one, I will give it a try on the next replacement job.

Regards,
LarryB

 

[LJSB]

When you're done installing the hoses this little tool is the best and easiest way to refill your coolant sytem. No need to warm up the car it works with a cold engine. It uses vacuum to pull the coolant into the system leaving no voids or air. Quick and thorough.
One of the best tool finds I feel that are out there.

http://mactools.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ItemNum=AEV700

 

[Autophile]

This is great info for me, and perfect timing. I plan to do my hoses soon....

I think I have most of the necessary tools:
*Heat gun
*6-ton jack stands (for good height) plus polymer protective caps
*Assorted long needle nose pliers
*New mechanic's gloves
*Various picks/hose pullers
*Various sockets, combos, and torque wrenches
*Various razor blade tools

Things I still need:
*Order 22 hose kit from SOS
*"8" seal plus oil cooler bolts
*Big collection bins to catch the radiator fluid (I will re-use it as it was just professionally flushed/replaced during timing belt job at Niello this week)
*Silicon grease
*MAC Air-Evac Purge and Test System, or something similar - thanks for the suggestion, pbassjo!

 

[Hrant]

Jason, Chuck at Niello should already have a set of the entire 21/22 hoses - one of the hoses is for the radiator overflow which you don't need to replace :wink:

 

[Autophile]

Jason, Chuck at Niello should already have a set of the entire 21/22 hoses - one of the hoses is for the radiator overflow which you don't need to replace :wink:

Thanks Hrant!

 

[Larry Bastanza]

You do not need to replace the oil cooler bolts, just coat with Hondabond and reinstall the original ones.

HTH,
LarryB

 

[KGP]

When you're done installing the hoses this little tool is the best and easiest way to refill your coolant sytem.

http://mactools.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ItemNum=AEV700

Nice find.

Additional key words for future search: Purge air radiator bubbles

 

[lithiumus]

Hey Audiophile,

What are the "Various picks/hose pullers"? Sounds like tools I was badly missing last night!

I have to add that my wife came out and saw me in the depths of despair only able to get the #2 hose in 80% and struggling with the #1 at 0%. She asked if she could help and if there was anything she could do.

I was pretty frustrated and just said, while hugging aroung the brake assembly, rotor at my nose and desperately trying to pull the #1 hose onto the oil cooler piece; "I don't know that you can help me". with cuts and scrapes on my arms from the various metal shields, she said; "is it strength or spacing". I said "its both". I let her help me and thank god. I had pretty much lost most of my strength in my fingers and arms and she was ready to help. Her small fingers were able to position the #1 hose and we both applied pressure and got it on.

The hard part was pulling it back across the other way...

She was a trooper and ended up with as many scrapes, cuts and as dirty as I was! Couldn't have done it without her and she now appreciates why I cuss, groan and call it a workout!

The tools I had...

Silicone lube in a spray can
Mechanics glove (only the left hand, lost the right one!)
3 long extended needle nose pliers
Torque wrench / socket set
Jacks and jack stand
Creeper
A good light (clamped on to the creeper; burnt my arms face, etc many times on the light)
Wife willing to get her hands dirty and help out

My coolant had all leaked out on the engine side so it was only dripping when I pulled the hoses off. I just bought my heatgun tonight $9.99 on sale from $32! =)

If those "hose pullers / picks" are useful, I'll get them too...

 

[Autophile]

What are the "Various picks/hose pullers"?

Here is a spark plug wire puller that I plan to try out: link

Here are some picks that I will try out (especially the "hook" style): link

Here are some nylon pry bars that look promising for the job: link

Lastly, I will employ some various spatulas and thin stirrers from my old chemistry labs in college. Unfortunately I don't have links for those. I like to collect odd-ball tools, just for jobs like these. :smile:

 

[baynsac]

Can someone give me an estimate install time for changing all 22 hoses??? Or if anyone has paid for this install how much did you pay??
Thanks

 

[LJSB]

Having your wife help you fix your car?
What's next? Stopping to ask directions?
Shame!:biggrin:

 

[lithiumus]

Having your wife help you fix your car?
What's next? Stopping to ask directions?
Shame!:biggrin:

hahah! I know... :redface: Sometimes, I'm willing to admit defeat!


yaynsx,

I didn't get a quote for all 22 hoses but I'm sure it will be expensive esp. if nothing else is being done. I asked Acura how much would it cost to install the 2 hoses and they wanted $280 before taxes CDN so figure about $250 USD for 2 hoses.

I'm sure the cost would be much less if you were already doing a timing belt or clutch change, etc.

 

[lithiumus]

Here is a spark plug wire puller that I plan to try out: link

Here are some picks that I will try out (especially the "hook" style): link

Here are some nylon pry bars that look promising for the job: link

Lastly, I will employ some various spatulas and thin stirrers from my old chemistry labs in college. Unfortunately I don't have links for those. I like to collect odd-ball tools, just for jobs like these. :smile:

Wow, those are some good tools. I can't see the "pick tool" but the spark plug puller and nylon pry bars look like they would have saved my fingers...

 

[Autophile]

Can someone give me an estimate install time for changing all 22 hoses??? Or if anyone has paid for this install how much did you pay??
Thanks

Prime members have mentioned times ranging from 6 hours to 3 days for a DIY job.

Niello Acura in Sacramento quoted me $1450 to change all of the coolant hoses. They came down to $1200 after my NSXCA discount, but still, I figured I'd try it myself. I mean, it was more than the quoted TB/WP swap!

Yesterday I bought all of the hoses from Niello, along with the o-rings, bolts, crush washers, etc., and a new expansion tank. The total out the door was $378. Hoses alone (all of them :smile came to $275 after tax.

Wow, those are some good tools. I can't see the "pick tool" but the spark plug puller and nylon pry bars look like they would have saved my fingers...

lithiumus, the picks I mentioned are just the standard "dentist-style" pick tools that you can get at any tool store. If you don't have any, I strongly suggest "picking" up a set. As a set, they rank as my most important specialty tools.

 

[Hrant]

Jason, 6 hours plus would be the minimum to do the hoses - and this if you know what you are doing with the right tools ....... :tongue:

Make sure you clean the radiator as well ........... I hope you saw the picture of my 8 year old radiator with the Dali radiator shield on the local list ....... it was almost plugged :wink:

 

[drew]

Took me 10 hours. The #1 and #2 hoses took me a couple hours because I initially refused to remove the oil filter mount...if you remove it you can do the job in about 6 hours.

It would have taken one hour less if I had replaced the OEM spring clamps with the common wormscrew clamps in few areas.

Important: You NEED more than the 22 hoses. There are o-rings, figure 8 rings, crush washers and bolts.

I used a razor blade, but a heat gun is probably safer on the hard piping.

Here my thread on the solution.
http://www.nsxprime.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42000

 

[Autophile]

Make sure you clean the radiator as well ........... I hope you saw the picture of my 8 year old radiator with the Dali radiator shield on the local list ....... it was almost plugged :wink:

Hey Hrant, I didn't see the picture. Was the inside of your radiator clogged? If it was, then maybe I should have the radiator gone-through by a radiator shop also.

Note: I found a less expensive Air-Evac Purge and Test System, like the MAC one listed previously, made by Mityvac (model 04700). They sell for around $80 on eBay.

 

[Hrant]

Jason, are you still on our mailing list?

Here is what I posted; using a dental tool/pick, I straightened most of the bent fins and it was dizzying. It took me a good two hours. Shad then blasted it with water to push all the debris and he got it to be open by almost 80%. And all this with 95% of my driving with the radiator shield except on hot track days!! This might be the cause for overheating at the track on warm days but we will find out. Also as a bonus, picture of the before after painted coolant tank - but couldn't match the same red on the engine :wink:

HTH

 

[Autophile]

I guess I must have dropped off the list. My email address has changed again. If I PM my email address to you, would you help me get back on the list? :redface:

I understand what you mean about the radiator clogging now. I'll take a look at mine during the hose swap.

Your coolant tank looks good! For mine though, I will just stay au natural. :smile:

 

[lithiumus]

Got the #1 and #2 hoses on perfect. I was just too tired... with renewed strength (unfortunately I couldn't find all the tools listed above) I used the needle nose pliers (wrapped with electrical tape), squeezed the hoses and pushed them into place.

#1 is near impossible if you don't remove Oil cooler (do it when changing oil)
#2 not too bad but remove the passenger rear tire for both hoses

I got the #1 hose on without removing the Oil cooler but it took well over 4 hours to do it. Not worth it, but I had a hose failure and recently changed my oil...