Radiator Hose Replacement Cost
Made of rubber, the radiator hose will help carry the engine’s coolant to and from the radiator.
If this hose were to burst, then the engine will not be able to receive the right amount of coolant, which, left ignored, could cause it to overheat, causing quite some damage.
As these parts are made of rubber, as mentioned, they are prone to cracking and wearing down over time from the high temperatures its exposed to regularly.
The average upper and lower radiator hose replacement costs
The costs to replace your radiator hose will depend on the mechanic/dealer you choose, the car you drive and your geographical location. When hiring a professional, be prepared to spend anywhere from $80 to $210 to replace both the upper and lower hoses. Since your car does have two hoses, your mechanic will want to replace both at once, seeing if one is bad today, there’s a good chance the second hose will follow.
According to the price quotes received at RepairPal.com, the quotes ranged anywhere from as little as $66 for a Honda Civic to as much as $273 for a Chevrolet Silverado 1500.
On one forum thread on Yelp, someone asked if $130 for the entire repair was a fair price, and according to the responses, they said it was a “cheap” price and much better than what a dealership would charge.
As for just the parts, the average radiator hose, regardless of the vehicle you drive, will often cost $10 to $20. At Amazon.com, for instance, the best-selling radiator hoses are inside this price range.
CarsDirect.com notes the average hose can cost $15 to $50.
The repair process
First, the mechanic will want to make sure the radiator hoses are the culprit, and in order to confirm their suspicions, they will often perform a pressure test to make sure the entire system is sealed. Aside from this, they will physically feel the hose with their hands, and if any part feels too soft, it’s often a sign it’s contaminated with oil and is likely the culprit.
When it’s confirmed the radiator hose is the problematic part, the radiator will be drained, and the clamps at both ends, once the radiator is emptied, will be removed.
Removing these clamps will then allow the mechanic to remove the radiator hose, allowing him or her to drain the excess fluids.
After the hose is removed, the fittings will be cleaned with a degreaser and the new hose will be clamped into place, just like the existing hose.
Once the hose is attached, the coolant will be refilled and the engine will be started to see if the problem disappeared.
How does it work?
The radiator hose is made of two parts: the upper hose, which is designed to carry the hot coolant from the thermostat housing, located on the engine block, to the radiator inlet, and the lower hose, which eventually brings the cooled fluid back into the engine after the coolant passes through the radiator and loses its excess heat.
Symptoms of a bad radiator hose
Oftentimes, a bad radiator hose will either become damaged due to age or from ignored oil leaks. Over time, these issues can lead to swelling and/or cracking, allowing the hose to split open and leak. If this were to happen, mechanics will advise you do not drive your vehicle anymore as a damaged hose can cause your engine to overheat, often causing costly repairs you could have avoided in the first place.
Other symptoms include a poorly running A/C or heater, steam coming from the engine or bulges in the radiator hose.
Tips to know
A radiator hose will not wear away like your tires or related parts. Eventually, as time goes on, the rubber will start to degrade, which, unfortunately, will lead to unwanted leakage. If the hose doesn’t degrade due to age, then the next culprit is often due to an oil leak as these leaks often cause rubber to swell and weaken, greatly increasing the chance of failure. YourMechanic recommends replacing the hoses every 5 years or 40,000 miles or whichever comes first.
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