Radiator Hose Buyer's Guide

A radiator hose is a key component in your Ford vehicle's cooling system. It helps to circulate coolant in your engine. Occasionally, these hoses wear out and need to be replaced. To help with that process, we've put together this guide that includes the following: 

• What is a radiator hose, and what does it do? 
• How do I diagnose or replace a failing radiator hose?
• What's the difference between aftermarket and OEM radiator hoses?

What Is A Radiator Hose, And Why Is It Important?

A radiator hose carries coolant between the engine and the radiator, circulating the coolant to keep the engine operating at a safe temperature. The coolant absorbs heat from the engine and returns to the radiator to cool off. As a result, the radiator hoses are subjected to a lot of heat and pressure, eventually wearing them out. 

For more info on radiator hoses, check out this article. 

Signs Of A Bad Radiator Hose

When a radiator hose starts to go bad, you may notice cracking or bulging, especially near the clamps. Other signs of a bad radiator hose include:

• Sagging or loss of shape 
• The hose feels soft when you squeeze it or is partially collapsed. 
• There are signs of coolant leaking from the hose.
• The coolant level is low, and/or you need to add coolant regularly.
• The engine overheats or runs hotter than normal.

If your vehicle leaks coolant or overheats, whether or not it's due to a bad radiator hose, it's important to check it out as soon as possible. Wait too long, and you could be looking at a list of expensive repairs for your vehicle. Learn about more symptoms of a failing radiator hose here.

How To Replace A Radiator Hose

Replacing radiator hoses involves four basic steps:

1. Drain the coolant from your radiator. 
2. Remove the old hoses. 
3. Install the new hoses. 
4. Add new coolant and bleed the cooling system. 

As a general rule, you should replace both radiator hoses and replace the coolant at the same time. Check out this tutorial for more information.

Are OEM Radiator Hoses Better Than Aftermarket Radiator Hoses?

Aftermarket radiator hoses can be cheaper to buy but can cost you more money in the long run for two reasons:

1. Most OEM radiator hoses are made of high-quality components and designed to last a long time. Aftermarket radiator hoses may be made of cheaper materials which is why they are usually less expensive and often don't last as long.

2. OEM radiator hoses are made to fit your Ford vehicle down to the make, model, and engine type. The hoses will be pre-formed and shaped to fit your vehicle and easily connect to your engine and radiator. Many aftermarket hoses are made to fit various cars and may not be an exact fit for your vehicle. 

For these reasons, you may have to replace the hoses more often, which means you'll have to replace the coolant more often as well. When that happens, you end up buying more hoses and paying for more coolant, costing you more money. Lear more about why OEM hoses are a better option here.

OEM Radiator Hoses From Blue Springs Ford Parts

For high-quality radiator hoses, check out Blue Springs Ford Parts. We also carry OEM thermostats and radiators.

Blue Springs Ford Parts is one of the largest Ford parts departments in the US. We've been in business for over 30 years and offer a huge selection of OEM parts at wholesale prices – all backed by Ford’s replacement parts warranty.

Contact our team today to get the best radiator hose at the best price.