[V6-12v] When to replace hoses...

[Tom Christiansen]

Folks,

I was replacing the expansion tank on my 1994 90S yesterday. Easy job 
as you might have expected. Three philips screws, two hose clamps, 
one electrical connector for the float switch, and you're done. The 
only catch is that the connector has some locking tabs that prevents 
the connector from falling out. I guess, theoretically, it's possible 
to get at the locking tabs with a small flat blade screwdriver, but I 
just pulled hard on the connector and it popped right out. If you do 
this, remember to pull on the CONNECTOR BODY not the wire!! - That 
goes for any connector, by the way. When inserting the connector into 
the new tank, make sure it goes all the way in. The locking tabs need 
to engage in the appropriate gizmos on the coolant level sensor.

One thing I did notice was that the hose at the bottom of the 
expansion tank was rather hard. Unlike most of the other hoses, it 
didn't have much give when I squeezed it with my fingers - at least 
not when the coolant is cold. It seems to soften up once it gets hot. 
In any case, it got me thinking about replacing hoses.

When do you recommend replacing hoses? 10 years? Never? When they 
bust open? Are there any signs of wear/decay that indicate when it's 
time to replace hoses?

At some point I noticed that the two coolant hoses by the oil cooler 
are pretty "gummy" at the ends. They've probably soaked up a fair bit 
of oil over time. So I was thinking to replace them. Am I worrying 
too much? Or are the gummy ends a true sign of hose decay?

Where do the two heater hoses end? Is it possible to change them 
without having to take the intake manifold out? How?

I'm doing a timing belt job here pretty soon, so now would be a good 
time to replace hoses if I have to...


Thanks,

	Tom