Check Out Your Car's Hoses -
Before They Check Out on You
Coolant hoses can certainly wear out in the life span of your vehicle - in fact, the rate of hose failure goes up dramatically after your car's fourth year of operation. And according to the Car Care Council, which coordinates free safety and emissions checks around the nation, about a third of the vehicles needing under-the-hood repairs needed new hoses or belts.
The average four-year-old car has been driven nearly 70,000 miles, a mileage interval that most technicians believe is the time many parts wear out. Coolant hoses are no exception and the age of the car is a good indicator of when replacement should be considered.
Traditionally, hoses have been visually inspected for failure from the outside. But with today's cars, that method isn't always the best since hoses usually fail from the inside where weakened elements can't be seen and their symptoms are not always obvious.
The materials now used in your engine's construction are different than those of years ago. Cast iron has been replaced with aluminum, plastic and brass. When these materials are used with the coolant, which is also conductive, it can create a sort of battery with the hose conducting electricity through itself. According to The Gates Rubber Company, the electrical current can create tiny cracks in the hose tube which eventually weaken and cause the hose to fail.
The higher operating temperatures in cramped engine compartments result in hotter temperatures for hoses. While increased temperatures result in greater engine efficiency, heat also increases the rate of this electrical phenomenon. Heat can weaken some types of hose reinforcement as well, reducing the overall burst pressure and performance of cooling system performance.
Vibration from rough idling engines weakens other types of hose reinforcements, says Gates, again leading to premature failure. Also, abrasion from sharp surfaces within the engine compartment can slowly rub through the outer cover of the hose and eventually cause it to burst. Cuts and nicks on the outside of the hose also contribute to premature failure, but oil is a more common threat. A hose subject to oil will be prematurely weakened since the oil actually attacks the rubber compound on the hose cover. Any of these signs indicate a hose that could fail at anytime.
But why replace a hose before it bursts? According to Gates, there are several benefits to doing so:
Eliminate inconvenience. A hose on the verge of failure may burst in the driveway or in the garage. However, if it bursts on the road, whether on a busy city street or a lonely country highway, the cost of a tow usually exceeds the cost of a hose.
Avoid serious, more expensive damage. Older cast iron engines could take overheating better than today's mostly aluminum engines. An overheated engine can damage other expensive-to-replace components.
Changing the hose is simple and fast. It's also less expensive if you're having other cooling system work done, such as changing the antifreeze or replacing the thermostat or hose clamps.
Always remember - a few minutes of preparation can eliminate hours of frustration.
This article was reprinted with permission from the Car Care Council, Port Clinton, Ohio.