A radiator hose is an essential part of the engine’s cooling system. The job that radiator hoses are in charge of, is similar to the job of pipes. It is responsible for transporting the coolant from the radiator to the engine. It carries the coolant through the engine at an optimal temperature. What happens if your radiator hoses break? How much do radiator hoses cost?
You may find radiator hoses made out of a few different materials. The most common material used to make radiator hoses is rubber. There are radiator hoses made out of silicone or steel. Although rubber deteriorates rather quickly, it is still the best overall material to make a hose out of.
The upper end of the hose is connected to the top of the engine. The lower end of the radiator hose is connected to the radiator. It transports coolant from the radiator to the engine.
Radiator hoses play a vital role for the engine to remain functional. You won’t be able to drive for long without a radiator hose. You can drive for short distances. But every time you start your car, your engine is at risk. Without adequate coolant flowing to the engine, it is just a matter of time until it overheats.
- What is a radiator hose?
- Best material
- Optimal engine temperature
- Signs of failure
- Life span
- Replacement cost
- Importance of a radiator hose
What Is A Radiator Hose?
A radiator hose is the one that transfers coolant from an engine’s water pump to its radiator. It is connected to the engine or the water pump using a clamp. The majority of the radiator hoses back in the day were made and molded for a specific model of vehicle.
Modern-day radiator hoses are made to be flexible. Therefore they are considered universal since they can fit any car. The radiator hoses are bent in a way that can connect the radiator and the engine. After the hose is in place its is secured with either a pair of clamps or a common screw type that is installed and tightened with a screwdriver.
In most cars, the return radiator hose is the one that lies in the bottom and travels to the radiator. The coolant is sucked out of the radiator through the radiator hose and pumped into the engine block. The coolant then travels through the engine block and travels to the engine heads.
Once the coolant passes through the engine block it would have absorbed a lot of heat. After traveling through the engine the coolant itself would be quite hot. Therefore it is sent back to the radiator through the radiator hoses. Inside the radiator, the coolant gets back to a lower temperature.
Now that the coolant is back to an optimal temperature, it is sent back to the engine block via the radiator hose. And so the cooling cycle continues.
What Is The Best Material For A Radiator Hose
The 2 commonly used radiator hoses are the standard rubber-based radiator hose and the silicone radiator hose. The silicone radiator hose is turning into a common alternative for the rubber radiator hose. So which of these radiator hoses are better?
The answer depends on what you are hoping to get out of it. For normal usage for a daily driving car, EPDM hoses are fine. EPDM hoses are steel-reinforced rubber-based hoses. These come as the stock hose in most cars. They work extremely well and can last for years if the cooling system is properly maintained.
Then we have the silicone-rubber hose. The silicone rubber hose is often equipped with high-performance cars. These are often found in race cars, muscle cars, and police vehicles.
Comparing silicone rubber hoses with the standard EPDM hoses, here are some of the pros and cons to help you make come to a decision.
Pros Of A Silicone Radiator Hose
Silicone hoses attach to the different components of the radiator more easily than rubber hoses. Also, they are less sticky compared to rubber hoses. Rubber hoses melt and stick to the component they are attached to. This makes them hard to remove after a few months of usage. Removing a silicone hose is generally easier than removing a rubber hose. Similarly, it is also easier to attach.
Another advantage of silicone hoses is associated with the looks. They have a metallic sheen that helps to enhance the appearance of your vehicle. If you are concerned with the looks of your engine block, this could turn out to be a deciding factor.
Cons Of A Silicon Radiator Hose
Then we have the flip side of the coin. To start off, one of the biggest issues with the silicone hose is its price. When you look at the radiator hoses cost, this could be a bummer. A silicone hose can be up to 4 times costlier than the standard rubber hose. Silicone is a more expensive material than rubber, and the result is that you’ll pay a good deal more.
Other than the radiator hoses cost, you should be aware of another issue as well. The silicone hoses aren’t capable of creating strong seals at the point they are attached to. Because of this, it’s also more likely that your silicone hose will not have a completely fluid-tight seal. When it is unable to create a fluid-tight seal at the radiator this would lead to coolant leaks. The system that uses a silicone hose over a rubber hose may be less efficient.
Another factor that could add to the radiator hoses cost is the clamps. If you are looking to replace your standard rubber hose with a silicone hose, you would have to buy new clamps as well. Silicone hose walls are a bit thicker than rubber hoses. buying new clamps will further add to the cost.
Importance Of Optimal Engine Temperature
The fluid that the radiator hoses transport from the radiator to the engine is called the coolant. It is meant to maintain the temperature of the engine. Water works fine as a coolant, but most people prefer a mixture of water and antifreeze as a coolant.
The coolant keeps the engine from overheating in hot weather and freezing in extremely cold weather. If either one of these happens to your engine, it will not be pleasant.
So, what is the optimal engine temperature? The normal operating temperature of the coolant in an engine is about 210F to 240F degrees. In most modern-day cars, the thermostat will open at 195F. But the engine will continue to rise until it reaches 210F. This is the temperature where your engine will be at its best, in both performance and efficiency.
The coolant helps to keep the engine at this perfect range. If the engine heats up a lot above this range it could overheat. Thus coolant implements a crucial task in the functionality of an engine. The coolant is useless if it cannot travel from the radiator to the engine. Since this task is done by the radiator hoses, they are equally important.
No matter how much radiator hoses cost, it is imperative that you get it replaced if it is not functioning properly.
Signs Of A Failing Radiator Hose
To know when your radiator hoses need to be replaced, first you need to identify if your radiator hose is failing. Here are some of the most common symptoms show by your car when the radiator hose is failing.
Leaking Coolant
If you fill your own coolant fluid, you would know that it is generally green in color. Although, know that there are many different mixtures of coolant, and each has its own color. If you see green (or any colored) liquid stains under your car, it means that your coolant is leaking. To further make sure that it is coolant you can try smelling it. Coolant will smell sweet. This way you can confirm that the fluid that is leaking is actually the coolant.
The source of the leak could be the radiator drain cock, the radiator itself, or the radiator hose. There is no way to pinpoint the source by looking or smelling at the leak. Therefore it is important to further inspect the cooling system. If you cannot find the source yourself, do not delay a professional check-up. The leak will get worse with time.
Low Coolant Levels
If your coolant is draining unusually fast, that often means it is leaking. A coolant could leak through many places, and this includes the radiator hose. It is a good practice to check your car’s coolant levels regularly. This way you could protect your car from running with no coolant. More importantly, you can protect your engine from overheating.
If you notice that your car is often running low on coolant the radiator hose could be the reason. The coolant could seep through a worn radiator hose or leak through the seals. Either way, this means that your radiator hose is faulty.
Low coolant levels are one of the most common signs of a failing radiator hose.
Engine Overheating
As long as everything is working fine your engine will not overheat. If your engine does overheat, that could mean that your cooling system is failing. A faulty component in the cooling system, such as the radiator hose could be the problem.
The radiator hoses are exposed to high-temperature liquids flowing through them. Most radiator hoses have rubber in them. This rubber cannot withstand much heat. So with time they will wear or crack.
When this happens coolant fluid leaks every time it travels through these hoses. Eventually, you will not have enough cooling fluid to keep your engine cool. This will cause your engine to overheat.
Coolant Deposits At The Edges
When a radiator hose is heavily worn, coolant fluid starts to seep through it. This eventually flows to the edges of the radiator hose and dries up. This is seen as coolant crusts near the radiator or the engine.
Checking your engine regularly should allow you to spot if your radiator hose is malfunctioning. This is one of the earlier symptoms of a failing radiator hose.
Swollen Radiator Hose
A swollen radiator hose is not hard to distinguish from a propper radiator hose. The coolant system runs under pressure. This pressure allows the coolant to travel from the radiator to the engine and back to the radiator.
The cap of the radiator helps maintain the pressure. A cap that creates excessive pressure will cause the radiator hose to swell. This excessive pressure will create higher amounts of wear.
With time wear could also be visible as a swollen radiator hose. It could wear inside out, keeping the exterior intact while the inside is worn out. A radiator hose that has lost the inner layer of rubber will start to swell at those weak spots.
During a routine check, if you see your radiator hose abnormally swollen or feels spongy, a replacement should be made right away. It is just a matter of time before a swollen radiator hose bursts while driving.
Visible Damage
Other than the above there are many other ways you might see damage in a radiator hose. If you see cracks or holes in your radiator hose that could also mean that it needs to be replaced.
If you notice any of these symptoms it is imperative that you act fast. Driving without a functioning radiator hose puts your engine at serious risk. If you are thinking twice about radiator hoses cost, keep in mind a blown engine gasket will cost much more.
Life Span Of A Radiator Hose
There is no exact number when it comes to the life span of a radiator hose. It varies with the material composition and also driving patterns. Keeping it at a lower end, it should last at least 4 years.
This doesn’t mean that you would need to replace your radiator hose in 4 years or 60,000miles. Radiator hoses are known to last up to 10 years. On average they last upwards of 5 years.
It is not hard to take a peek at the radiator hoses every now and then. It is good if you can make it a practice to inspect it every time you change your engine oil or coolant. The symptoms are easy to recognize.
It is best not to wait until it fails. Analyzing the symptoms should give you a rough estimate of how long it would last. Replacing it early could protect you from catastrophic failure. Having it replaced every 5 years should be more than enough.
How Much Do Radiator Hoses Cost?
Even though radiator hoses play such a vital role in your car, relative to other components radiator hoses cost almost nothing. The cost could depend on many factors. These include the type of radiator hose used, labor, and the extent of the damage.
Process Of A Radiator Hose Replacement
Before removing the radiator hose, the first thing that would be done is removing the coolant. You cannot remove the hoses while the coolant is still in the system, or it will jet out. Therefore the liquid should be drained first.
Then the process of removing the hoses begins. First, the clamps that hold the radiator hoses in place are removed. After the clamps are removed detaching it is simple.
When the existing radiator hose is detached it needs to be replaced. The new ones are installed in the place of the old. Then they should be secured in place by using the appropriate clamps.
Then all that remains is refilling the coolant and testing out how it works. The process is simple unless there are leaks. If there are leaks and it has found its way into the engine or transmission the repair procedure could get intense.
Cost For Parts
Radiator hoses vary depending on the material it is made of. Most cars are equipped with standard rubber EPDM hoses. These are more than capable of doing the job for your car. They can stand the test of time as well. And they cost fairly less.
If you choose a rubber-based silicone radiator hose it is going to cost much higher. This is mainly specified for cars with special requirements such as race cars, muscle cars, and cop cars. If your car doesn’t fall into any of the above there is no real reason for choosing silicone hoses.
Anyway, the cost for the hose is going to be between $50 to $200. You can expect EPDM radiator hoses to be in the lower end as they often cost less than $100. While the silicon hoses would be in the higher end. They are known to cost over $200 as well.
The clamps don’t significantly either. You can purchase new clamps for under $10.
Labor
Depending on the model of the car and the extent of damage the labor cost is going to change. A simple radiator hose replacement could be done in about an hour. If your coolant was leaking all over the place before you decided to replace your radiator hoses, it will take a while to clean them up as well. So, depending on the damage the labor charge will change.
In most cars, the radiator hoses are easily accessible so the labor will not take a long time. But there are some exceptions such as the Toyota Camry or the Toyota Corolla. In these cars, the process is a bit more tedious and can take up to 2 hours.
The charge for labor varies from place to place. Hence depending on the place, you live in you should expect to pay a different amount. It ranges from $70 to $150. The average charge for labor per hour is $90.
Since the process takes about an hour, you should expect to pay around $100. Depending on the model of the car it could as high as $250.
Average Total
By adding the labor and the parts you should be able to get a realistic picture of the total cost.
At these rates, the entire procedure should cost between $150 to $175. But when everything is said and done the bill adds up between $175 to $225. This is the cost if you identify that your radiator hose is about to fail and get it replaced before any further damage.
If your car suffered any further damage the price could surge. For example, if your engine is heavily damaged it could cost up to $5000 to repair. Or if your radiator is busted it could cost upwards of $1000. At the least, if non of the components are damaged, properly cleaning the coolant leaks could cost up to $500.
Importance Of A Functioning Radiator Hose
You can actually drive without a radiator hose. But you won’t get far. Whenever you are driving the car without a radiator hose you are harming the engine. Your person could be at risk if you drive without a radiator hose. You might end up with a blown engine or a totaled car altogether.
If you decide to drive without a radiator hose, there will be no possible way for the coolant to reach the engine. The engine heat will be on the rise steadily. And it is just a matter of time before it blows. When the engine overheats there is a real possibility of a fire breaking out.
Radiator Hose Replacement Facts:
- The average cost for a radiator hose replacement ranges from $15 to $424, depending on whether you go to a mechanic or DIY, and does not include taxes, fees, or specific make and model.
- RepairPal’s Fair Price Estimator provides a more accurate estimate based on make, model, and location, with mechanic costs ranging from $97 to $424 and DIY costs ranging from $15 to $321.
- Radiator hoses transfer coolant between the engine and radiator, and a replacement includes draining the engine coolant and may require replacing the coolant as well.
- Failure to replace a bad radiator hose can lead to coolant leaks, engine overheating, and serious internal engine damage or seizure.
- Radiator hoses should be replaced every four years or 60,000 miles, or sooner if signs of wear, cuts, wear marks, discoloration, or minor leaks are present.
- Replacing a radiator hose is a beginner to intermediate level DIY job, depending on the location of the hose and accessibility.
- Common related maintenance services include coolant changes, water pump replacement, and thermostat replacement.
Verdict – Radiator Hoses Cost
Keeping your engine cool during a drive is vital. And this process is done by the cooling system present in your car. The radiator hoses are the veins of the system and are necessary for the functionality of your entire car. So it is important that you make sure that it is in working condition.
Knowing the symptoms of a failing radiator hose will allow you to spot the problem before it worsens. The longer you drive with a damaged radiator the higher the degree of damage. This would also mean that you would have to pay a higher cost for the replacement.
A radiator hose would last at least 4 years or 60,000 miles. So you wouldn’t need to replace it regularly. Replacing it when necessary will allow you to save much more down the road.
