Replacing a leaking radiator hose in your car is a fairly easy thing. All you need are a couple of basic tools and some minimal mechanical skills. You will save the mechanic money and achieve some satisfaction if you learn how to replace a leaking radiator hose.
Steps
Step 1. Start by identifying the radiator hose to be replaced
To do this you have to bring the machine to operating temperature.
- Park your car on a level surface with the engine running, parked and with the emergency brake on.
- With the car running, it checks the pipes for collapsed areas or leaks and does the same with the engine off.
Step 2. Drain the engine coolant when it has cooled down
Open the tap on the lower end of the radiator and drain the liquid into a bucket.
Step 3. Loosen the clamps on the leaking radiator hose
Step 4. Take the tube in your hand and start pulling it away from the end to which it is connected
- Remove the zip ties from the leaking hose.
- If the hose does not slide off easily use a utility knife to make a parallel cut across the hose from the end to just past the nipple it is attached to. Peel the hose from the fitting like an orange.
Step 5. Insert as much as possible the pipe on the radiator connection and on the motor housing above the edge that runs around the external part of the connection
Step 6. Insert the clamps into the tube within the width of the clamp and tighten as necessary
Step 7. Close the tap on the bottom of the radiator and start filling the radiator with the correct mixture and type of coolant
Step 8. Replace the radiator cap and continue to fill the system from the coolant reservoir
Step 9. Start the engine and allow it to reach operating temperature
Step 10. Check for leaks by looking at the liquid level in the reserve tank, it should go down as soon as the thermostat is opened
Step 11. Drive the vehicle as you normally would, check the coolant levels and double check for leaks
Step 12. After removing the radiator cap, let it drain into a container of at least 4 liters
Step 13. When the engine is turned off the back pressure should reveal any leaks that are not seen
Refill the refrigerant as needed
Step 14. Slip the clamps into the new tube
Advice
- Clean the engine and radiator connections to remove any old pieces of hose that are still stuck before installing the new hose.
- You will find a pipe that goes from the radiator to the engine thermostat housing (usually located on top of the engine, above the water pump). On rear-wheel drive cars it will be in front of the engine. On front-wheel drive machines it is located on the passenger side. The second radiator hose is located at the bottom of the engine, comes out of the water pump and goes to the bottom of the radiator.
- It may be necessary to remove parts other than the tube if they prevent access to the tubes. Use a digital camera or take a video to document what you removed and how.
- If the tube has been on for a long period of time it may be necessary to divide the end of the tube with a cutter and detach it from the end.
- Put a light layer of petroleum jelly inside the tube. This will help it slide over the bindings.
- Some makes and models of cars may require you to purge trapped air from the cooling system for it to function properly. Check if you need to do this for your car.
- The two types of terminals are screw or clamp. With the second type, use pliers to grab the ends of the clamps and slide them to the bottom of the tube. With the screw type use a screwdriver to loosen the mechanism that tightens or loosens the tape on the clamps.
Warnings
- Do not dump the refrigerant on the ground, it is a type of hazardous waste that must be disposed of properly.
- Allow the engine to cool before draining the coolant to avoid burns.
