Leaking coolants can be a huge problem. One common source is the heater hoses. The heater hoses are responsible for allowing the hot coolant to enter and leave the heater core, which heats the interior of your car. Sooner or later, the car's heater hoses will become hard and brittle which can easily crack causing leaks.
If you haven't had your car's heater hoses replaced for quite some time now, try giving them a feel. The hoses should not be excessively hard, brittle, swollen, mushy, or soft. If you feel any of these things, then it is time to replace them as soon as you can.
Most people go to auto service centers to get them replaced. However, if you want to save money, then you might want to do it yourself. It is easy to do and will only take about 30 to 60 minutes depending on your experience in car maintenance.
The first thing that you need to do is place a drain pan or bucket under the radiator. Then, you need to drain the system by opening the petcock fitting near the bottom. You need to remember that the old engine coolant is poisonous and if you are not going to use it again, you have to properly dispose of it as soon as you can.
Then, you need to remove the hose clamps from the old heater hose. You should use a pair of pliers or a screwdriver depending on the type of clamp used. Once you loosen the clamps, give it a little twist and pull off the hose.
After removing the hose, you should scrape the fittings clean. Do this as carefully as possible. Then, you will need to apply a small amount of gasket sealer to the fittings in order to ensure a tight fit when you install the new hose. Always remember that you should only apply the sealer to the fittings. Using too much will possibly clog the hose.
Then, you need to slide the clamps onto the new hose. Make sure that the hose slides over the fittings far enough that it will position the clamps properly.
After that, you need to tighten all the clamps, fill the radiator with coolant and start the engine to check for leaks. Try rechecking the fluid level after the engine has reached normal operating temperature.
As you can see, it is quite easy to replace heater hoses. You don't need to be a mechanic to do it and if you do it yourself, you will be able to save hundreds of dollars on repairs.
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