If there’s one thing you want to make sure is going on under your vehicle’s hood, it’s that your engine doesn’t get too hot.  Heat is an engine’s worst enemy, and it can result in very expensive repairs, even leave you stranded in a tough spot.

One vital part of your vehicle is the radiator hose, which connects the engine to the radiator.  That’s where the heat goes to be carried away from your vehicle and is dispersed to the air outside.

A faulty radiator hose can lead to serious engine problems if it’s not handled quickly.  An aging, stressed radiator hose can develop cracks and leaks, leading to coolant leaking under your vehicle.  The rubber in the hose may weaken, swelling near the clamps that attach it to the radiator and may ultimately burst.  

You may smell coolant when a radiator hose is failing.  It has kind of a sweet odor, one that is a sign you shouldn’t ever ignore.  You may notice the temperature gauge on your dash is headed up past the middle zone, one possible sign of a radiator hose going bad.  And if you see steam coming out from under the hood, that’s a sign that some coolant may be leaking onto a hot surface.  

It is, of course, better to maintain your radiator hose’s health before any of these signs.  We recommend a technician regularly inspect hoses for wear, especially when you are planning a long drive.  It’s also important they check the areas next to clamps and bends.

Periodic replacement, say, every five years or so, is one way to reduce the chances of a radiator hose failure.  And it’s always a good idea to have the coolant in your vehicle regularly checked, as that may point to failures in the coolant system.  

Consider your radiator hose much more than just a rubber tube.  It’s one lifeline to a cool, healthy engine.  

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