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I recently started smelling radiator fluid when the fans kick on. So i plan to change all the hoses, thermostat, and radiator cap. Can someone lead me in the direction of all the hoses I need? I know the upper and lower radiator hoses, obviously. But I've never messed with all the heater hoses, and looking at rockauto, it's a little overwhelming what all I need. Thanks
on another note. Would silicone radiator hoses be worth it? This is my daily driver and I rarely ever drive it hard. Just a few spirited pulls every once in a while. I've seen some silicone radiator hose kits around $80-120. But I can get regular rubber hoses for MUCH less. Thoughts?
Before you start throwing needless $$ at your G why not find out where you have a leak by having a pressure test done? It's possible your radiator is leaking and it's not any of the other parts you're wanting to replace, but you'll only know by having the pressure test done...get my point? Gary
Try a coolant dye detection kit. Dye and a black light. That'll show you where leaks are coming from and on the cheap.
Silicone hoses are over rated imo. Most of my hoses are original after 100k and 15 years. I replaced the upper and lower rad. hoses when I replaced the rad. for ***** and giggles.
So I did the dye test and couldn't find anything. Then I did the pressure test and couldn't find anything. So I decided to change it ALL. I changed the upper and lower radiator hoses. Then the thermostat. Then the driver side heater hose. Then when I got to the passenger side heater hose, I noticed it was wet. Long story short, it was the plastic coupler that joins the two heater hoses on the passenger side, had started to deteriorate. It had a very small hairline crack in it. When I was trying to remove both hoses together as a whole unit, the plastic coupler snapped into two pieces. This is the part that I've seen SO many people have trouble with. I replaced that coupler with a metal one and two new hoses.
So after all of them being replaced, hopefully I won't have to mess with that stuff for a long time. fingers crossed.
I also suggest that anybody who hasn't changed that plastic coupler out yet, do so before it blows and you're stuck overheated on the side of the road.
In their defense it does take a decade for the plastic to finally fail. I helped push a disabled Chevy Sonic last weekend that ruptured a plastic coolant fitting. On those vehicles the entire thermostat housing is made of plastic and the neck ruptured right off the thing, that was only a 4 year old vehicle though.
Yeah and let me tell you something, glycol coolant is slippery AF when you're wearing cowboy boots. It was just a SLIGHT incline and I about ate pavement every step I took.
I almost kicked off the boots because my socks would have better grip, next time I definitely will. Lesson learned.
I almost kicked off the boots because my socks would have better grip, next time I definitely will. Lesson learned.
This is totally random and off topic, but relates. We had a terrific ice storm once and I learned how to walk on ice. Turn your athletic socks inside out and put them on over your shoes. The terry cloth tentacles magically grip and you get unerring traction. Weird but true!
Nothing is leaking but figure at 107k miles gonna replace all the major cooling hoses and change the coolant again. Radiator ones... no problem ordered and have those
I'm gonna replace the bleeder valve... as well as that hose connector on passenger side shown here (in another thread-not mine) with a couple of the Z1 Coolant bleeders.
