Coolant hose blew after only 2 years.

[Hugh]

When it rains it pours. Or maybe it's just the karma getting me for going after Zymol but the other day I had a small coolant leak in the bypass hose. This morning I was at Wheels Boutique getting a new set of GSD3s (Thanks Ben), also got to meet Ski Banker. Sorry I wasn't able to stay and chat. While there, Charlotte took a piss on the floor and we thought it was from a crack in the expansion tank. A few miles later on the highway, the temp needle starts rising, I pull off and whadya know! One of the main engine compartment hoses is doing an Old Faithful.

My hoses are only 2 years old but have 80,000 miles on them. I was planning on replacing them with the next timing belt in the next couple of months but they're all being replaced next week. So let this be a lesson boys and girls....don't neglect your cooling hoses.

 

[Osiris_x11]

80k miles... that's jus' plain nuts, not peanuts either!

I had one of my large coolant hoses literally explode two weeks ago. Two years, approx. 10k miles ago was when they all were replaced.

I can relate to when it rains, it pours... I was actually coming home from my mechanic's shoppe after having to deal w/ a cracked rear brake-pad which then 'ate' into my rotor (inner surface of disc). Though, I do miss the train-like sound when I now brake, lol!

Acura dealer's parts dept. said it'd take 3-4 days for the hose to come in. I just went to Advance Auto Parts and got a comparable size/shape hose for $5-$6 and two new tightening-clamps (the OEM ones are a real challenge to work w/ unless you're one of the X-Men) for $1-$2/each.

Khappacino/David was sincere enough to send me a thorough DIY/FAQ on his experience w/ a near identical situation. Small tips make the job reasonable instead of frustrating/lengthy!

 

[Doc308]

I find it very odd for hoses to be bursting after 2 years.Since both of you had dutifully replaced your hoses, could the replacements just be cheap crap? Were these OEM hoses?

 

[Hugh]

I find it very odd for hoses to be bursting after 2 years.Since both of you had dutifully replaced your hoses, could the replacements just be cheap crap? Were these OEM hoses?

OEM but I've put 80,000 miles on my car since the replacement. That's a LOT of hot/cold cycles for the rubber. I should probably move up the timing belt replacement. Still thinking of going with the Toda belt. Wonder if anyone else here has used it.

What makes you think the OEM hoese aren't cheap crap btw?

 

[Osiris_x11]

smell of burnt coolant in the morning, oh yeahhh...

I find it very odd for hoses to be bursting after 2 years.Since both of you had dutifully replaced your hoses, could the replacements just be cheap crap? Were these OEM hoses?

The hose that blew for me was sudden/instantaneous. Looking at the hose later, there were no stress indicators or bulging prior to failure. It was an OEM hose, as-per the 6yr/90k maint'/service performed by Goodson Acura approx 2.5yrs ago.

Worth noting that I reside in Central Texas w/ temperatures generally near 100 degrees for a good portion of the year. My NSX isn't my only car, but it's driven alot. Also, the hose failed as I was launching from a stop fairly aggressively (about to go from 1st -> 2nd at about 7250-7500rpms).

What makes you think the OEM hoese aren't cheap crap btw?

I think the OEM coolant hoses are alot like the aggressive-compound A022 tires: storage/age is quite important. The rubber can degrade/decay microscopically over time whether on a warehouse shelf or installed, yet the hose may appear brand-new.

 

[Hugh]

Re: smell of burnt coolant in the morning, oh yeahhh...

Also, the hose failed as I was launching from a stop fairly aggressively (about to go from 1st -> 2nd at about 7250-7500rpms).

Well there's the problem! You didn't redline it.

 

[Osiris_x11]

taste-test confirmed it...

Well there's the problem! You didn't redline it.

I was en'route to 8k, anything else would be unacceptable indeed!

I started smelling a sweet-misty aroma and subtle hints of glycol-juice... I looked down, my lap was dry though; also I hadn't had Mad-Dog & Mtn Dew in days (that I recall). Hence, I knew right-away I had blown a hose. Looking in the rearview mirror, a pervading cloud of steam was exiting through the RWG, and I hadn't yet installed my 007 smoke-screen. :redface:

 

[khappucino]

thanks for the nice note osirus, glad that helped a little bit

i know that my coolant hose, post-burst was very soft in the area where the hose burst, while the rest of the hose was very firm. I recall that the older hoses from 91 were defective because of developing soft spots and bursting or something similar to that. This doesn't apply of course since your hose was relatively new, unless it was an old part that magically sat on a shelf for a while or something from 15 years ago =O. A quick test perhaps is if you inspect your 2 big hoses once a month to feel for soft squishy spots, it should be pretty uniformly firm normally. I don't know if this will help but it may help in the future for you guys who haven't changed your hoses yet. I'm guessing that the hoses will show some sign of softness before they finally give up the ghost. I may be wrong but thats my 2 cents. either way if you cruising down the road and you see a big fat plume of white smoke, don't have a heart attack, it might just be your coolant hoses. regardless though you need to shut it down and get it towed if you can, its not worth overheating your super expensive engine to save a few bucks =)

 

[Hugh]

There are 6 "big" hoses that comprise the main coolant route, two of which are out of sight under the car.

 

[khappucino]

well i meant to two biggest 'dos amigos' ones coming from the water pump :biggrin:

 

[Jin1976]

I caught mine earlier and the hose split wide. Coolant was spraying all over the engine hatch and I was lucky to notice it earlier since I removed the engine cover.

 

[Hugh]

I caught mine earlier and the hose split wide. Coolant was spraying all over the engine hatch and I was lucky to notice it earlier since I removed the engine cover.

Trust me, even with the engine cover in place you would have noticed it just as quickly. All that steam is like a mini Mount Saint Honda erupting.

 

[Osiris_x11]

rotten-rubber...

I just replaced the two large(r) hoses. One basically obliterated, the other was recomended to replace since you're already in there. Of-course the one that blew was the hose that was unreachable. I had to Macgyver my socket-rathets and attachments to reach there. Oh yea, a few surgical-grade scalpals helped the cause, haha... :tongue:

Khappa' made an excellent point: no matter where you are, please don't continue driving your NSX if this occurs. It's just not worth it! I was fortunate to be approx. 1/4 mile from my residence, that I pushed my NSX to my driveway/garage.

 

[Hugh]

Re: rotten-rubber...

Khappa' made an excellent point: no matter where you are, please don't continue driving your NSX if this occurs. It's just not worth it! I was fortunate to be approx. 1/4 mile from my residence, that I pushed my NSX to my driveway/garage.

That's why a AAA Plus membership is worth it's weight in gold. They'll tow you up to 100 miles for free.

 

[Mingus]

What do you do that takes you 40,0000 miles on the road a year?

 

[Zennsx]

Maiden gigs...:wink:

 

[Hugh]

What do you do that takes you 40,0000 miles on the road a year?

Search and destroy missions to humilate sports cars costing way more than the NSX. :biggrin: