How to check engine coolant hoses

When checking for engine component maintenance and wear, the coolant/heater hoses need to be checked. In this section we check hose condition and monitor condition of the cooling system.

The engine hoses house a cooling liquid called anti-freeze. The main reason to check these hoses regularly is, if any of the coolant leaks out the engine could overheat and possibly be damaged.

Note:

Make sure the engine is cold when checking the hoses to prevent burning yourself.

Locate the upper and lower radiator hoses. These two hoses that connect to the radiator allow coolant to circulate and take away excess heat from the engine.

Squeeze them to check for strength.

There should be some flex in the hose, not too spongy or hard. An aged hose usually gets hard, but soft or swollen hoses are an indication of too high engine temperatures or maybe oil soaked into the hose from a leak on the engine.

Heater hoses from the engine allow coolant inside the vehicle for heat.

Hoses from a separate reservoir to the engine allow coolant to get to the water pump.

The return hose allows coolant to circulate back to the reservoir from the radiator.

Some worn hoses fail at the ends where they are clamped which can cause fluid to leak out.

Recommendations:

Consider having all of the hoses changed around 125,000 miles as a preventative maintenance, this will prevent any problems from occurring suddenly.

Note: Refer to the “How to section” on checking coolant/anti-freeze for more information about related systems.