Changing Coolant hoses
- Thread starter lithiumus
- Start date
If anyone wants to buy one of these on eBay, I highly recommend the guy I went through. His eBay ID is "beamolite," and he rocks! Instant feedback, lightning fast shipping (on my doorstep in 3 days), great email communication, and a good price ($79.99 + $10 shipping).pbassjo said:
Update: I did my hoses this weekend. (Well, all but one hose, as Niello gave me the wrong hose for the front lower radiator hose...:frown: I should get the correct one today.) I just wanted to mention a few of the tools that were especially helpful in this job.
1) Hose clamp pliers. These guys were a must-have! They are sized for this job, and they even handle those nasty double-springs (heater hoses). I got a pair from Harbor Freight for about $10.
2) Radiator hose removal tool. This thing handled the large hoses easily. It also helped to loosen the smaller hoses too. Again, it was cheap at Harbor Freight.
3) Sil-glyde lubricant. This stuff made hose installations easy. I got mine from Napa for about $8 I think.
4) A scapel-style razor. Sorry, no picture. A friend gave me a cool scapel razor that was handy in slicing the hoses when needed.
5) Hose grip pliers. These helped to grab some hoses that were difficult to handle, such as those at the heater box up front.
6) The standard long-reach needle nose pliers that come in different angles.
Even though I had a heat gun at the ready, I never had to use it. That doesn't mean it was an easy job though... on the contrary, I understand now why the dealership wants to charge so much for labor on this job.
Hopefully tonight I can use my Mityvac purge tool, and button this thing up. :smile:
1) Hose clamp pliers. These guys were a must-have! They are sized for this job, and they even handle those nasty double-springs (heater hoses). I got a pair from Harbor Freight for about $10.
2) Radiator hose removal tool. This thing handled the large hoses easily. It also helped to loosen the smaller hoses too. Again, it was cheap at Harbor Freight.
3) Sil-glyde lubricant. This stuff made hose installations easy. I got mine from Napa for about $8 I think.
4) A scapel-style razor. Sorry, no picture. A friend gave me a cool scapel razor that was handy in slicing the hoses when needed.
5) Hose grip pliers. These helped to grab some hoses that were difficult to handle, such as those at the heater box up front.
6) The standard long-reach needle nose pliers that come in different angles.
Even though I had a heat gun at the ready, I never had to use it. That doesn't mean it was an easy job though... on the contrary, I understand now why the dealership wants to charge so much for labor on this job.
Hopefully tonight I can use my Mityvac purge tool, and button this thing up. :smile:
Good to hear it is coming along. Let us know how that Mityvac tool works.
As for the lower hose, my guess is that it was based on the model year. The set that Niello had was for a 98 (presumably 97+) and we know the hoses changed when they went with the larger spare.
I will be testing my system this Friday at THill, and hopefully cleaning the radiator, new hoses, and the Accusump may solve the overheating when the ambient is above 90F. My mix is 50/50 for now - starting with an OEM baseline, with water wetter.
As for the lower hose, my guess is that it was based on the model year. The set that Niello had was for a 98 (presumably 97+) and we know the hoses changed when they went with the larger spare.
I will be testing my system this Friday at THill, and hopefully cleaning the radiator, new hoses, and the Accusump may solve the overheating when the ambient is above 90F. My mix is 50/50 for now - starting with an OEM baseline, with water wetter.
What o-rings are required for this job? I'm aware of the "8" gasket, but not of any o-rings(?)
You can replace the o-rings on the radiator drain and fill plugs
.
19012-PV0-005 $1.68 list
HTH,
LarryB
.19012-PV0-005 $1.68 list
HTH,
LarryB
Hrant, I think you are correct about the later model lower radiator hose difference... Anyway, the replacement hose is on now.
The Mityvac worked great! I had to use the smallest rubber adapter to get it seated onto the expansion tank. With my air compressor providing ~120 psi pressure, the Mityvac pressure gauge came down to ~26" Hg vacuum. (The vacuum marking extent on the gauge is 30" Hg.) I let the system sit under vacuum for about a minute to reveal any leaks, and during that time the pressure didn't creep up at all. Yay! :smile: With the leak check cleared, I started feeding the antifreeze. I opened the valve on the Mityvac to draw up the antifreeze into the system, then I closed the valve to change antifreeze bottles. When the system pressure reached ~0" Hg, the system was full. It took just shy of four (4) gallons. Overall, a very easy method of filling the system.
The Mityvac worked great! I had to use the smallest rubber adapter to get it seated onto the expansion tank. With my air compressor providing ~120 psi pressure, the Mityvac pressure gauge came down to ~26" Hg vacuum. (The vacuum marking extent on the gauge is 30" Hg.) I let the system sit under vacuum for about a minute to reveal any leaks, and during that time the pressure didn't creep up at all. Yay! :smile: With the leak check cleared, I started feeding the antifreeze. I opened the valve on the Mityvac to draw up the antifreeze into the system, then I closed the valve to change antifreeze bottles. When the system pressure reached ~0" Hg, the system was full. It took just shy of four (4) gallons. Overall, a very easy method of filling the system.
Good luck. I hope the fresh cooling system fixes the problem.Hrant said:
Autophile said:
We've been using this type of device to refill cooling systems on all vehicles at my shop that had to have the cooing system opened, for well over a year now. It is easier, neater, safer and eliminates running the engine up to temp., to get the thermostat to open, and circulate the coolant to clear any air pockets. We love it and I knew you guys would too!
I have the silicone hoses for the Vacuum hoses but not for the coolant hoses. The racing silicone hoses Dali has covers all 6 of the larger hoses but you still need the OEM hoses for all the smaller ones.
Another option but is definitly the highest priced option, is to go with a full Earl's Plumbing set... but that might be over kill. Then again, maybe use Earl's for the ones most likely to fail... i.e. the 6 main hoses and the oil cooler hoses... I think that's a good compromise, but I'm sure the other school of thought is that it will then make all the other hoses, weaker links...
Another option but is definitly the highest priced option, is to go with a full Earl's Plumbing set... but that might be over kill. Then again, maybe use Earl's for the ones most likely to fail... i.e. the 6 main hoses and the oil cooler hoses... I think that's a good compromise, but I'm sure the other school of thought is that it will then make all the other hoses, weaker links...
We've been using this type of device to refill cooling systems on all vehicles at my shop that had to have the cooing system opened, for well over a year now. It is easier, neater, safer and eliminates running the engine up to temp., to get the thermostat to open, and circulate the coolant to clear any air pockets. We love it and I knew you guys would too!
Thanks to pbassjo I have aquired the Snap-On version of this tool. It is more expensive then the Mightly-Vac or the Mac version, but after Joe and I opened the box it is obvious why. Quality and durability is far superior.
The bottom line is now I can keep the car level, never open the bleeders and fill in 2-3 minutes, with no mess!!!! Killer tool, cannot beleive I waited so long to get it.
I am sure any version of this is fine, and if you do this once and a while I would get the less expensive MV version, but if you do this all the time, spring for the SO version, you will not be disappointed.
Regards,
LarryB
Larry, can you point us to the Snap-On part number?
Similar threads
