Choosing quality coolant hoses.

[2ndGenGuy]

I decided that now is a good time to change out all my coolant lines. I had a blow out that left me sitting on I-5 this weekend. I figure once every 292,000 miles, those hoses should probably be changed out...

The dealer wants $50 for a single heater hose for the car, and don't even sell the upper and lower radiator hoses. What brands of hoses do you guys use, or what kinds should I look for when I buy new hose? Is there a difference between materials, makes, types? Is there a kind that I can mold to make look nice when it's all routed? I just want to put the best stuff I can on the car while I'm doing it...

[forrest89sei]

um i'd get like Gates or Goodyear


have had great luck with both

[skycam_313]

i second goodyear... they make great hoses

[labeledsk8r]

i have used goodyear aswell and i will say they seemed to hold up verywell

[MessyHonda]

i have a gates belts on my car and have been fine for a while 10k+ miles


so i bet they would make a good hose.

[2ndGenGuy]

Is there any way to mold these yourself? I hate how they're just going to be going all over the place...

[race12001]

not unless you want to get the ones with the coils inside but the tend to rust

[2oodoor]

get you ID measurements and jot down your shapes, go to an old school parts house and ask them if you can look at the hose selection without them using a computer to find your hoses.

[2ndGenGuy]

^^ good call, I like that idea.

[offthahook]

Been here. You can go aftermarket at like NAPA or AutoZone and they will be molded for the radiator, and upper and lower radiator hoses will be like OEM. I think you can get molded heater hoses on the aftermarket, but I'm not sure. I have used the non formed hoses that come in the roll for the 2 heater hoses. I just made them a little longer to avoid kinking and kinda routed them a different way. I would say the quality of the aftermarket stuff is just as good as the OEM stuff. Honda probably uses Gates or Goodyear for their hoses anyhow. www.rockauto.com or www.autopartsgiant.com are good websites for just checking out what's out there aftermarket wise. Honda will not be a good source on this one.

The noncomputer idea is a good one as well. You got this one Im sure.

[2ndGenGuy]

Sweet. I feel good about picking up some new stuff this weekend! Gonna get it ready for the trip to San Francisco!

[2oodoor]

one other thing to be aware of..
if you are fitting custom radiator hose, make sure they are reinforced ribbed design, as close to oem as possible. These hoses really can't have the steel spring inside them to support the elongated portions because of the disimilar metal in the engine that breeds corrosion. The elongated parts of the hose can suck together from vacuum in the system and stay that way eventually restricting the flow.
I think most hoses are made with ribbed belts these days, so the advise here is be carefull choosing.