Have Your Radiator Hoses Inspected

By Author: Steve Smart
Total Articles: 19
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If you have owned your vehicle for a long period of time or you have bought a previously owned vehicle, then it may be wise to have your radiator hoses inspected. Usual, the hoses that come with a new car should be able to last about 100,000 miles or about 10 years. Inspection should however be done long before you reach these mile stones.

Checking the condition of these items should only take you a few minutes but it will save you a great deal in subsequent maintenance and repair costs. Radiator hoses are the avenues that engine coolant use to cool the engine and then go back to be cooled in the radiator. For the effective running of your vehicle, the whole system must run efficiently.

These items are one of the most important devices in your engine, they help maintain the temperature of the engine at an optimum temperature of about 90 to 100 degrees Celsius. After some time, the hoses begin to weaken, if they are not repaired or replaced completely, then they may collapse causing the whole engine to overheat.

The damage caused by the above mentioned failure can be severe and expensive, it is therefore ...
... worth your while to check and inspect for any leakages or signs of damage. There are some of the inspection units that have to be left to a professional mechanic, however, some of the things mentioned here can be done at home.

First and foremost, before you begin working, you need to let the engine cool. Do not attempt to remove the radiator cap when the engine is still hot because there is usually a build up of pressure and hot coolant can gush out and cause severe injuries. You may also need to wear gloves as coolant liquids can be corrosive.

Prop the engine hood open and locate the radiator pipes. These can at times be hard to find hence the reason they are often overlooked. The one on top runs from the front to the motor, this is usually the most visible one. The other one is a bit smaller and runs to the heat wall of the engine. You are more likely to find it from underneath the car.

Look at each one of them carefully. Check for any signs of swelling, cracking, leakage or any other kind of damage. Afterwards, do a squeeze test and pay extra attention to the areas where the pipe is bent. The pipes should be able to spring back or feel spongy.

This test should be done after a drive when the engine is slightly warm. If during your inspection one of the pipes feel extra soft or very hard, then they should be replaced. You are more likely to find a single spot that is soft or very hard as opposed to the whole pipe. Whichever the case is, it still needs to be replaced.

You will also need to look at the pipes near the clamps that connect them to the engine and the radiator. There are usually three different types of clamps. There is the banded clamps, the gear clamps and the wire clamps. Check for any wetness or rotation of the hoses near the clamps.

if there is any wetness in that area or if the hoses rotate, tighten the clamps or replace them all together. You could have a professional do this for you. The gear clamps and the banded clamps are usually tightened using a screw driver. The wire clamps are usually tightened using hose clamp pliers. The wire clamps are the ones that have no screws keeping them in place.

Clamps are usually quite inexpensive and can be replaced without much cost to you. Therefore if there is any sign of deterioration or damage in any of them, it is advisable that you replace them instead of replacing them. This can be done at the same time you decide to replace the hoses.

While working, you are going to need a well lit working area. You could also use a flashlight if need be. You are also going to need a screw driver, hose clamp pliers and a pair of leather or latex gloves. Since you are also likely to be working underneath the car, you may also need a ramp for easy movement under your vehicle.

The importance of learning how to do this inspection by yourself cannot be overemphasized. There is a real chance that this procedure will save you from being stranded on the side of the road with an overheated engine. You could get a mechanic to do this for you but it will be an unnecessary expenditure.
Resource: http://www.autowerksofamerica.com/