[WakefulJjjjj42]

Howdy!
I’m flushing my coolant in the next week (my buddy was trying to be helpful and topped off my coolant with some differently colored stuff while we were working on the car.) My ‘01 9-3 has about 50k miles on it and on my (admittedly amateur) inspection, all of the rubber hoses don’t seem to show any signs of degrading. Is it worth replacing them with either new rubber or with silicon, or should I just not fix it if it ain’t broke?

 

[BobSaabit]

Most of our hoses are very aged. Lower miles like yours have less heat time, but I still might be inclined to replace them just due to age. The little U-shaped one at the waterpump would be difficult to do without pulling the pump, but the rest are at least moderately accessible.

 

[jvanabra]

I would at least replace the upper radiator hose and thermostat.

 

[ReverendPaul]

Replace any hoses older than 10 years.

The lower radiator hose is one of the main things that kills any engine.

I wouldn't bother with silicon myself, I don't think it's worth the extra money. I've not ever had the same car 10 years later to get the benefit (sounds dull to not change it up)... and if I did I'm pretty sure I'd soon be fixing something else and removing them anyway soon.

Go buy a stock specifically with the price difference and thank me later.

 

[Weyfarere]

I just replaced all of mine, maybe $100. If you pull the thermostat to do a flush--replace it. And clean the housing really well, so you don't have to pull them all back off to reseat it because it leaks...like I had to.

The hardest part is draining the system. I eased off the lower radiator hose instead of trying to get to the drain plug.

Flush the radiator real well.

I second the vote against silicon. Uro was the cheapest brand for most hoses.