Rubber deteriorates over time and a bit faster if in the sun. It doesn’t matter if tires (dry-rot), belts or hoses, control arm bushings, etc.
My test for hoses (others may have other opinions – which is fine) is if a hose has to be removed for a repair (a heater core would be a good example) or if hoses are 5-7 years old or older, I would recommend replacing them - if car is to be used for long journeys or daily driven.
Hoses, even new ones, will fail. Older hoses have a higher tendency to fail.
My second opinion, is to squeeze the hose. I do know that hoses will be somewhat firm, but they should not be “rock hard” or not flexible.
This is kinda hard to explain, but if you have a new hose and old hose together (of the same hose) then give each a squeeze and you will know better on what I’m talking about. Old hoses will get hard (not pliable) after time.
Hard items do not flex – they break. Hoses have to flex or will burst.
Note: heater hoses can be very hard to remove from the soft tubes - if left in place for a long time. Generally, for the cost of heater hose being cheaper than finding a heater core, I generally will remove the heater hose clamps, then give the hose a firm twist. If it pops loose, great. If not, then cut a slit in direction of hose, at heater core, then peal the old hoses off. I have personally damaged way too many good heater cores, when cutting them off is so much faster (and less damaging).
Belts are kinda in the same category – but for a different reason. They wear at the pulley groves – and they do get hard as well. Hard belts do not get traction, like soft belts do.
I think it is safe to say that just about everyone knows of a person that has a car that tossed off the drive belt or had a drive belt break on them.
Personally – I don’t want to be the one broke down on side of road – on something like a broken belt or popped hose – when I could have had prevented it.
Next subject – the lower spring hose.
I have no idea why new hoses do not come with that spring in place. Most people will replace that lower hose and never see the spring – thereby not having it/getting it re-installed.
Not having that spring in the lower hose, will give a person cooling system problems – to no end.
To back up a bit, the upper hose is water coming from engine (which is hot) and dumps into radiator top tank. As coolant goes down the radiator tubes it cools off. The water pump then sucks the “cooler” coolant from bottom tank of radiator. That means the lower hose is under a constant suction.
Without that spring, it will collapse restricting (or cutting off completely) any “cool” coolant into engine.
TIP for everyone: If going to an auto salvage or pull-a-part, grab a lower radiator hose (or the spring within it) from any older Chrysler rear wheel drive vehicle (vans and pickups included up to ’93 – for they all use the same spring) and put that spring in your spare parts bin.
You never know, you might purchase a vehicle (or have a friend with) with overheating problems – and re-installing that spring back into the lower radiator hose most likely will fix that problem
BudW
