Heater core hose grenaded!

[Dirk37]

So I was going onto the freeway today and thought it would be fun to run it out to redline. I get to the end of first and shift, then at the end of second right as I'm about to shift I hear this big POP, and a shitload of acrid, coolant flavored steam fills the inside of the car and goes everywhere. I was like holy shit and turned off the heater and rolled the windows down and thankfully, even though the car was spewing coolant and steam, I was able to make it to the auto shop I work at.

Upon closer investigation I found the the short piece of hose that connects the block to the solid heater line had exploded!

I cut the end of the metal pipe off and just put a piece of hose in there with two pipe clamps and its all good now. I highly recommend at least checking this hose to be sure it's in good condition so this doesn't happen to you.

Now I did notice inside that piece of hose I cut off there's what looks to be some sort of restrictor. I'm assuming its to limit the amount of coolant going through the heater core. Is that going to be a problem or will my car just get super heating abilities?

 

[K-Dawg]

Since one hose went, you should go ahead and replace all of the hoses. They're all the same age and in the same condition - ready to blow.

 

[NoSlo]

You don't have to cut off the metal pipe, you can hacksaw through the metal clamp and spread it to remove the hose, then replace with a normal hose clamp.

 

[Dirk37]

Since one hose went, you should go ahead and replace all of the hoses. They're all the same age and in the same condition - ready to blow.

I noticed the same piece on the other hard line has already been replaced, I think the previous owner did most of the hoses but not this one for some reason. I'm definitely going to go through and replace anything that looks old.

You don't have to cut off the metal pipe, you can hacksaw through the metal clamp and spread it to remove the hose, then replace with a normal hose clamp.

Dang wish I would have thought of that! Just realized it has the special hose end on it.

 

[kevinspann]

And then use a 3/4 to 5/8 reducer hose on it.

 

[BasedBidoof]

Same shit happened to me, it was such a ***** to change

 

[Devin]

I replaced mine with some high strength silicone hose and some standard hose clamps.

 

[Irish Pride]

Had you not cut the pipe and just removed the old hose, this would have been the proper replacement -

http://m.oreillyauto.com/mt/www.ore..._heater+hose_1138665_2171&keyword=heater+hose

 

[hawkeye18]

The same thing happened to me a while ago, but I had to effect the change at a Brewster's ice cream parking lot! That really sucked. Had to walk a mile to an autozone since I didn't know whether the car would make it. It lost a LOT of coolant.

I second that you really should replace all your hoses. Once one of them goes, the rest are not far behind...

 

[Dirk37]

I replaced mine with some high strength silicone hose and some standard hose clamps.

Had you not cut the pipe and just removed the old hose, this would have been the proper replacement

I replaced mine with some hose and clamps too, had I known I could cut that clamp off I would have, but I was kind of freaking out lol

Same shit happened to me, it was such a ***** to change

It was awful. I had to cut the mount that held the solid hose on with tin snips, since the engine was hot and I couldn't get any tool back there to unbolt it. Then of course it was sharp as shit and I cut the **** out of my hand on it so I got coolant and blood all over the engine bay. I couldn't stop thinking of the "I gave blood today, I worked on my SHO" shirt shosource sells

but I had to effect the change at a Brewster's ice cream parking lot!

That's awesome! I always keep tools with me in case it ever comes down to that, thankfully I've always been lucky enough to make it home or the shop I work at

 

[hawkeye18]

That's awesome! I always keep tools with me in case it ever comes down to that, thankfully I've always been lucky enough to make it home or the shop I work at

I had no tools other than the Leatherman I always keep in my pocket. It really sucked, but I was really glad I had the Leatherman.

 

[yamahaSHO]

I've done it.

 

[NoSlo]

That hose is "a walk in the park" compared to the one I had spraying coolant through a pinhole, the yellow one below:


Everything you see on that side of the engine has to come out including the two coolant block housings, replacing the above hose is done just because it is one of the things to take out to get it out of the way. You can't even see the hose that goes between the two heads.

BTW, the hose between the two block outlets is 1.25", I replaced it with NAPA gold braid reinforced hose ($12/foot) and new hose clamps because I never want to do that again:


I learned one more way the SHO is awesome though, coolant circulates only through the engine and back to the water pump through the bypass hose until the thermostat opens, so the engine warms quickly.

 

[Fordlover96]

I learned one more way the SHO is awesome though, coolant circulates only through the engine and back to the water pump through the bypass hose until the thermostat opens, so the engine warms quickly.

The SHO is one of the slowest cars, I've ever driven, to warm up. Well, at least mine is......

 

[Dirk37]

The SHO is one of the slowest cars, I've ever driven, to warm up. Well, at least mine is......

Same here, it takes a good 2.5 miles for it to come off of cold.

That hose is "a walk in the park" compared to the one I had spraying coolant through a pinhole, the yellow one below

Wow I didn't even know that hose existed How did you find that leak?

 

[Devin]

Stupid temp coolant manifold. It's the home of the temp sender and temp sensor, and also the thermostat. The pro tip is to not tighten the clamps down on that 3 in connecting hose until the manifold is on the engine.

 

[K-Dawg]

The SHO is one of the slowest cars, I've ever driven, to warm up. Well, at least mine is......

Maybe your T-Stat is stuck open?

 

[Fordlover96]

Maybe your T-Stat is stuck open?

I hope not, brand new thermostat. HOWEVER, I think I should put a motorcraft unit in there and that might help.

 

[yamahaSHO]

Mine always took awhile to heat up.