Radiator Hoses

For emissions done today and my mechanic said that the upper radiator hose is seeping and will need to be replaced soon and to just replace the bottom at the same time while you’re at it. Questions:

1) What is seeping and how do you tell?

2) Any videos or forms with how this is done? Do I need to drain the coolant to do this job so I would need to fill it again with new coolant?

3) Who does the OEM parts and where can I get both hoses?

 

seeping may mean there is fluid leaking out from somewhere, either small holes or out either end of the hose. I would suggest you check your radiator cap to ensure its not damage and not loosing any fluid from there, may be the reason for loss of coolant.

I'm sure youtube has a video of someone doing this, yes you will need to replace the coolant with the 50/50 mix. As you will be removing the main arteries of the coolant system, the top and bottom of the radiator. I've added a video on replacing the radiator, but it shows half the removal process of hoses which is half the battle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGoyhgmkmXk


OEM does have these hoses available, you can also snag them at your local auto parts store.

upper
https://www.sparksparts.com/oem-par...9dHVuZHJhJnk9MjAwOSZ0PXNyNSZlPTUtN2wtdjgtZ2Fz

lower
https://www.sparksparts.com/oem-par...9dHVuZHJhJnk9MjAwOSZ0PXNyNSZlPTUtN2wtdjgtZ2Fz


Hope this helps.

 

Appreciate this! I’ll have to check and see where he was seeing the leak so I can watch for it.

 

Word on the street is that the water pump does have an acceptable small amount of leak, I don't know exactly how much, as mine exploded at about 30k and was replaced under warranty.... I don't have any type of noticeable amount of leak with the exception of the top hose where the radiator cap was leaking, making it look like the top hose was seeping as well.

 

whichever is Easier to obtain, toyota parts or a quality namebrand (who probably makes toyota's stuff) like Gates.

Oh, but do use Toyota Long Life Pink or Red (gotta dilute w/de-mineralized water), pricey yet worth it....

 

I had the water pump replaced 2 years ago so I hope that wouldn’t be it. He did mention the upper house but I failed to ask where the leak was seen/located at. I may need to check the cap.

 

Definitely gotta use the good stuff!

 

Haha why are these so shiny? What makes them better/more of an upgrade?

 

I would look closely at your hoses. Seeping means the mechanic sees fluid leaking but not too much. Normally when a radiator hose is going you can tell by squeezing it. A good one will be sort of stiff while a bad one will feel soft. This should be done with the cap off and the truck cold. Sometimes you can see the hose starting to separate from the internal cords inside it that keep it from bursting. Seeping could be from where the hose slides over the tubes on the radiator or engine. In that case it could be crud built up (which will need to be removed). If the hoses aren't expensive replacing them isn't a bad idea but I'm betting there's a lot of Tundras with much older hoses that aren't having a problem (my 2000 Tundra still has the original hoses).

 

Silicon hoses are nice

 

Is this the possible seeping of the upper hose? I wouldn’t say the hose is stiff but not soft, either.

 

Have you checked your cap?? Mibe looks about the same

 

It looks good to me? Not sure, though.

 

Sure does.

 

So maybe I don’t have seepage...

 

I don't think so.... but I'm not ASE cert... may be YouTube cert, lol.... eitherway my hose has been crusted like that for years..

 

Been thinking about silicone radiator hoses myself. Was considering HPS or Mishimoto. What did you go with?

 

I have heard great things about mishimoto, they are just pricey.

 

That’s where I didn’t think they were that bad with the picture I posted.

 

I went the Mishimoto route with a koyo all aluminum radiator... but if the pink is showing try cleaning it see if it returns that will let you know if its leaking might be a bad seal it had or left over from a previous service. An keep a eye out for your coolant level would be my advice....

Om a side note the real advantage of silicone is , it not breaking down from oils n gases like rubber. Should last the life time of the vehicle. And hold more pressure if you run a heavier lbs cap for better cooling.

 

Awesome info, thanks. What do I use to clean it? Just get soapy water and a brush and scrub around it? With my coolant, it hasn’t lost anything ever since I got the water pump replaced two years ago.

 

Soapy water would work.