Radiator Hoses - Replace if Visually Fine?

[KATfishing]

2008 Yukon Denali, 6.2 L, AWD, 191,000 miles. Vehicle has original radiator/coolant hoses, but no leaks and appear fine with no noticeable soft spots or cracking. Radiator professionally flushed at 5-year marks and conditioners used. Dex-Cool always used. I came across this article about not needing to proactively replace hoses. If all seems well, leave them without worry? I've read about the "T" being a problem... that is original, too, but not noticing any leaks.

 

[Doubeleive]

radiator yes, upper and lower hoses no.
heaters hose's and heater hose firewall t connectors yes.
on these the plastic sides of the radiator like to crack, the heater hoses get brittle at the plastic t's and break off
13 years is pushing it......

 

[Geotrash]

I'll pile on to what Wes said. In my opinion, that's about time for a complete cooling system refresh. Radiator, radiator hoses, water pump, heater hoses and T's at the firewall. Use only OEM parts for the T's and the radiator. Rock Auto has good prices on all of them. Cheap insurance. I did the same on my 2007 with 195K on it at the time a couple of years ago.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

CHANGE THEM ALL!

Don't let this happen to you on the road. I was 'accelerating' against another truck, and at high RPMs, the cooling hose just blew itself apart. I had ~130,000 miles on the truck at the time, and visually, all of the cooling hoses looked fine on the outside.



Note that this was a hose separation, and not an issue with the plastic Tee's, which are also problematic, and should be replaced, along with ALL coolant hoses.

 

[OR VietVet]

Do it all because you are pushing the limit and when you have a problem, it will not be in your driveway. "Maintenance pays and breakdowns cost". All the cooling system wears out from the inside out.

 

[Foggy]

I Agree with Do Em All !!! 14 years old.... You have gotten your money's worth for sure,
esp if you haven't been stranded or worse yet , overheated your engine due to a leak or
blow out... I do all of mine every 5 years (I have 8 cars)

 

[donjetman]

2008 Yukon Denali, 6.2 L, AWD, 191,000 miles. Vehicle has original radiator/coolant hoses, but no leaks and appear fine with no noticeable soft spots or cracking. Radiator professionally flushed at 5-year marks and conditioners used. Dex-Cool always used. I came across this article about not needing to proactively replace hoses. If all seems well, leave them without worry? I've read about the "T" being a problem... that is original, too, but not noticing any leaks.

We changed w/new all of the hoses shortly after we bought our ole 07 Denali 3 yrs ago, even the plastic heater hose Ts we replaced with the pricey aluminum jobbies from Gruvenparts.com

 

[KATfishing]

Thank you all for your responses! Are the hoses a pretty simple DIY job? Any special tools need for the connectors? I will consult my manual, YouTube, etc., but you all are always the best advisors. We tow a 5,500 lb. hybrid camper on the flats of Wisconsin, so I want to prep while in the offseason. Denali is driving great right now. I want to keep it going as long as possible.

 

[Doubeleive]

Thank you all for your responses! Are the hoses a pretty simple DIY job? Any special tools need for the connectors? I will consult my manual, YouTube, etc., but you all are always the best advisors. We tow a 5,500 lb. hybrid camper on the flats of Wisconsin, so I want to prep while in the offseason. Denali is driving great right now. I want to keep it going as long as possible.

the easiest way to do the heater hose t's is to get some pliers and break the plastic tabs off the side then they just come off there is special tool but it's royal pita to get them off otherwise even with the tool. the other hoses just slide off/on with spring loaded clamps for which there is another tool......

 

[OR VietVet]

Watch several you tube videos to see all the different ways and how to refill the system correctly. Also, do the thermostat at the same time with a quality Genuine GM or AC Delco stat.