My radiator started leaking (replacing with Mopar). Figured I might as well replace the upper and lower hose at the same time until I saw the price of the Mopar hoses. My hoses are not leaking, just figured might as well replace the hoses while they are off as a preventive measure. Are the Mopar hoses worth the cost, or are there good aftermarket hoses? Does everyone else just reuse there hoses or replace at the time of radiator replacement?
No you don't have to use MOPAR branded hoses. I would recommend replacing the Hoses if they are cracking and getting brittle. Only you will know if they need replacing. They are cheap enough to do at the same time, while all the fluid is out. Makes for a cleaner, easier replacement
I've yet to see a radiator hose that blew that was cracked and brittle in my 44 years of driving, all mine were soft and looked fine up to the day it finally blew. Every hose I've ever seen that was old had gotten "extra soft" in the area it was getting ready to fail in. I'd install new hoses like from Gates or Goodyear which are great quality and not as expensive as the Mopar hoses which were likely made by one of those two names anyway.
Make sure too to re-use the OE factory constant-tension hose clamps which automatically compensate for temperature changes. Aftermarket worm-gear hose clamps can't compensate for temperature changes and can allow leakage in different temps. I learned that from mrblaine after complaining I was having trouble keeping my radiator hoses from leaking when the temps changed.
I'd also advise installing a fresh 195 degree thermostat, and make sure it's a standard thermostat like a Stant or (better) Stant's SuperStat. Avoid any thermostat that claims to be "failsafe". Failsafe thermostats likely won't fail in the closed position but their design makes them fail far too easily and often in the open position.
Finally, a fresh radiator cap with the proper 18 lb. pressure rating is also recommended.
I've yet to see a radiator hose that blew that was cracked and brittle in my 44 years of driving, all mine were soft and looked fine up to the day it finally blew. Every hose I've ever seen that was old had gotten "extra soft" in the area it was getting ready to fail in. I'd install new hoses like from Gates or Goodyear which are great quality and not as expensive as the Mopar hoses which were likely made by one of those two names anyway.
Make sure too to re-use the OE factory constant-tension hose clamps which automatically compensate for temperature changes. Aftermarket worm-gear hose clamps can't compensate for temperature changes and can allow leakage in different temps. I learned that from mrblaine after complaining I was having trouble keeping my radiator hoses from leaking when the temps changed.
I'd also advise installing a fresh 195 degree thermostat, and make sure it's a standard thermostat like a Stant or (better) Stant's SuperStat. Avoid any thermostat that claims to be "failsafe". Failsafe thermostats likely won't fail in the closed position but their design makes them fail far too easily and often in the open position.
Finally, a fresh radiator cap with the proper 18 lb. pressure rating is also recommended.
I recently redid all of that while having a new MOPAR radiator installed. I used MOPAR hoses. The reason the one is so expensive is there is a metal spring like coil inside that I assume is to prevent it from collapsing. I also replaced all the clamps with as close as i could get to MOPAR, a couple ended up Rugged Ridge because discontinued. I also replaced the water pump and the drop tube while it was apart. And the fan drive. Oh ya and the shroud because some genius used a grinder on the old one instead of a drill(not me). All MOPAR. In for a penny in for a pound.
I shopped around the best prices I could find and gathered up the parts. Since I didn't wait to have a failure.
I haven't seen a replacement hose in many years that still had the spring inside to prevent collapse from vacuum. I talked to a Gates rubber guy about why springs are no longer see and he explained it was because newer hose designs are better and no longer require the spring.
All that looks good, good choices. For coolant I would buy Zerex G-05 locally, NAPA carries it. Cheaper stores like AutoZone don't carry anything as good as G-05 from Zerex. Mix whatever coolant you buy 50-50 only with distilled water which doesn't have dissolved mineral content that can clog radiators. Distilled water is available inexpensively by the gallon in your local grocery stores.
Just an FYI - I don't believe the coil in the lower radiator hose was ever intended to prevent collapse during normal operation. These were included because as part of the factory installation process they would draw a vacuum on the coolant system to remove air and draw in coolant. The coil prevented collapse of the hose during this process. Replacement hoses do not have coils simply because they are not needed, no-one is drawing a vacuum on their coolant systems outside the factory floor.
Interesting, I didn't worry about it much, I just observed it was there. And lol about MOPAR!
"As vehicles with original hoses began to age, the coil would sometimes begin to corrode and deteriorate, circulating tiny pieces of metal throughout the cooling system. We'll leave it to your imagination what this did to water pumps and thermostats."
I usually go with Stant for caps and thermostats, Gates for hoses, and Felpro for gaskets.
I only spend the extra cash on Mopar for hard parts.
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