Just wondering the easiest way to do this? Is removing the entire skid plate from the bottom necessary? Is it possible to do from the top?
thanks!

 

"Possible" yes, however you're going to struggle badly. This job was designed 100% around having easy access to it from the bottom. You don't even need to take the entire lower engine cover off, if you just remove all the bolts except for the 2 at the back and just let it lay on the ground you can get your arms up in there to get the hose off.

The first issue you're going to have is trying to get a large enough reservoir under the car to drain the coolant. An oil drain pan usually isn't big enough, I have various 5 gallon plastic buckets cut down in height in 3 inch increments so this is not an issue for me personally, you're going to need to make something work though.

Next, those hoses are usually REALLY stuck in place and oftentimes you need to use a razor blade to slice the hose lengthwise where it's fused to the thermostat nipple and the radiator nipple just to be able to remove them with a pair of pliers.

Plus the angle of the radiator hose clamps can be in a really problematic position from the top.

If you do try remove it from the top at minimum you will need to remove the radiator fans just so you can get BOTH arms into the location to cut/rip/pry those old hoses off. The time it takes to do all of this you might as well just drive the car up on some ramps, and use an impact driver/screwdriver to pop out the 12 or so bolts on the lower engine cover. Again, it's POSSIBLE to 1-hand getting the radiator hose off but you're not going to like how your arms feels the next day, I lift 3 times per week and have replaced too many radiator hoses to count and I don't even like doing it from the top with 1 hand unless it's a newer hose that's just being taken off for maintenance. Old corroded hoses that are fused into place, forget it, the twisting and prying makes my arm ache for a couple days usually...

If you have access to some ramps that's going to make life so much better, heck even a set of low profile ramps is better than nothing since it will allow you enough room to get a battery screwdriver/drill/impact driver under there to get the cover off and then you'll have plenty of access to the hose from under the car. Just make sure to chock one of the rear tires on both sides if you're on ramps.

 

Thanks Cleric, going to do this tomorrow. I actually have ramps, just that the underbody tray is in rough shape and im sure many of the bolts holding it on are rusted/seized. I'll go in from the bottom and use penetrator, dont have any power tools unfortunately. Not sure how much of the tray ill be able to salvage, so i may be driving without one.

I replaced the thermostat a few weeks back, the upper end of the hose came off fairly easily once i got vice grips on the clamp. Thanks again!