Any preference for the brand for the radiator hoses? I am planning on flushing the block with distilled water, then fill it up G-05 coolant. As that is supposed to be compatible and last longer than the regular green stuff.

I figured while I was at it, I would replace the hoses since they are 5 years old at least.

I'm assuming the GM hoses are probably discontinued. So it looks like Gates (Which I beleive is AC Delco), Goodyear, and Dayco.

There is Drive-Rite, but I believe that is the cheap version of Dayco, so I'll probably pass on that brand.

Last time I looked at the Goodyear hoses for another car, they had what looked like bulges on them. I had heard someone else mention that. Sure would make it hard to see if the hose is going bad if it already has bulges on it. Plus, I'd bet that would be a weak point.

 

I've always found Gates to have good quality belts and hoses. Goodyear has been good as well. Pretty much all halfway decent parts stores carry good products. I get my stuff from Carquest, but don't know if they are wherever you are. I know heater hoses are discontinued at the Dealer, but they can give you original part numbers to help in shopping around. Good time of year to replace that stuff.

 

Locally I can get Gates and Dayco. Though, if I went with Gates, I'd order via Rockauto as it is around $31 shipped for the upper and lower. Which is alot cheaper than Napa.

I know last time I had a problem with I think a tie rod or something rubbing a hole in the lower radiator hose. So, the shop replaced that hose and zip tied a cut open piece of hose around the area it was hitting.

I know at least one of the heater hoses has been replaced. It looks like a couple of them would be a pain to replace. So, I probably won't bother with them.

 

i use gates hoses and gatorback belts only.

 

Well if the heater hoses are OK there's no need, but its good to check them. You have the same ones I do. From the rear intake to the heater valve in kinda bendy and probably needs replacing with a formed one. From the valve to the heater core has a small bend at the end but straight would probably work. From the lower rail back into the radiator is straight hose. Heater out to the rail looks like the worst to do, I've not yet had the pleasure. Heater valve down to return rail iffy to avoid kinks. Some a little pricey, but beats walking... Be safe!

 

Looks like I'll probably order some Gates hoses then. I do hear they make really good belts.

I do believe the GM hoses are the best hoses out there. As on the Vette, I had pulled the 20 year old original GM hoses and they still looked good. And the GM hoses are thicker than the aftermarket. Too bad they still don't make them.

 

I may replace some of the easier ones if it can be done with a straight hose as that is pretty cheap. I don't have the smog pump, so that hose I may could use a straight hose since it doesn't have to bend around a smog pump.

And yes, that short hose from the heater core to the pipe behind the engine looks like a major pain. I would think you would have to remove all of the heater hoses just to get to that clip. I'll wait till the heater core goes to do that one as the heater core is still original at 175k miles. I think Napa sells the off the roll heater hose by Gates.

I know one thing on the Goodyear heater hose. Is I tried using a straight piece to replace one of the hoses on the Vette. And I had to put almost a 90 degree bend on it, and I saw it looked like the hose was starting to close off at that bend. So, I pulled it and ordered a molded hose. But one thing I noticed is where I had put a bend on the Goodyear heater hose, it had a soft spot there. So, it made me wonder how good of a quality Goodyear hoses are.

Sure would have been nice if there were only 2 heater hoses like on the Vette not counting the throttle body hose, but that can be bypassed.

 

What size is the heater hose that goes to the radiator? It looks bigger than 5/8". I'll replace that one, and probably the hose that goes around the smog pump.

It looks like the hose that might of been replaced was that little one in the back. As it looks different than the rest of them as it has small ridges running along it.

 

The piece on mine says" Goodyear heater hose 3/4" (19mm) "

 

Thanks, that's what I'll get for that hose.

 

I picked up some 5/8" and 3/4" heater hose from Napa. I'll do that large one that goes to the radiator and the one that goes in front of the oil filler tube.

Not sure if I want to mess with the hose on the heater core, and the one that goes from the plastic valve thing to the back of the intake. I know some have gotten a leaking heater core just from pulling/pushing on it when replacing hoses.

I've also gone through a few of those plastic valve things in the past messing with that piece. I guess the one from the parts store is cheap as I've had that piece crack just by moving it around. I hope I don't run into that problem.

 

Yeah, I got one of those valves one weekend when it broke. Looked the same but was cheaper plastic than the harder bakelite or whatever that stuff is GM uses. Hoses were kind of old and trying to clamp them down enough to not leak caused breakage there. Stick with OEM ones for that thing. Lots of still good ones at the JY for cheap. Something like $25 at dealer!

 

The Junkyards don't have many 3rd gens anymore. They've crushed most of the ones they had. Plus the engines are usually pulled out of them.

Are you sure that valve is $25 at the dealer? GMpartshouse shows $51.80 list and discount price of $33.67.

My dealer usually charges the list price I find at GMpartshouse. I'm surely not gonna pay $50 for that thing as it is just plastic. Should be made of metal for that price.

I've also gone through a door handle as the latch part broke so the handle would dig into the door when you opened it. Replaced it with a GM one and it too broke a year later. Been like that for years. I may get the $20 from Autozone and fix that before winter.

 

IDK, I thought that was what it cost, but that was a couple of years ago. Still got several third gens here usually. I used to pick up spare valves but started to wonder how many did I possibly need anyway? I tend to over collect. I've got some good used OEM ones around somewhere you can have for like $10 plus shipping if you need any?

 

I'd probably just spend $16 and get one from the parts store that has a one year warranty. As that valve in there does go bad, so no telling how much use the used OEM one got.

For the radiator hoses. I ended up getting Dayco since Advance had some coupons. I've got a lower Gates hose on now that got a hole rubbed into it, and had to be replaced years ago with a cut open hose zip tied to keep it from rubbing. So, with the Dayco, I'll see if it rubs. It may be one of those things where you have to trim some off at the radiator side to pull it away from where it is rubbing.

 

Not sure why a replacement hose would even have a rubbing problem, but I imagine one would have to see it to know. Visual and vacuum inspection can tell you lots about how old and used up used OEM parts are. I only pick up used stuff in excellent used condition. Sometimes you can tell somebody was throwing lots of new stuff on or maintaining it well before a crash. Good fortune with your hoses!

 

It looks like it would be rubbing on the bracket for the tie rod. Kinda hard to tell with that extra piece of hose wrapped around. But there are some lines running around. I'll put the new hose on and see if it hits anything. May have to trim it some if it does to see if it will pull away from that bracket.