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Molded Radiator HoseEarly automotive engineers were faced with a problem. They needed to figure out how to get engine coolant from the engine to the radiator...and back again. That's not seemingly too difficult. They just needed to figure out the best method of moving a liquid. Yet, it had to flow around a lot of moving parts like the pullies for the fan belts. So the shape of the pipe had to be quite irregular. The connection also had to deal with the vibration of the engine. So the conduit handling the fluid could not be so rigid that it would shake loose a neck of the radiator. What they decided on were molded rubber hoses to connect--in most cases--the thermostat housing, the inlet neck of the radiator at the top, the water pump, and the radiator's outlet neck at the bottom. -
The term radiator hose refers to the two hoses attached to the radiator. There are only two types of these hoses-molded and flex. The molded hoses are engineered and manufactured for a specific application. So a molded top hose for a 2000 Chevy S-10 Blazer is not going to fit much else because of the numerous bends and overall length needed for that vehicle. A flex hose could also be used, but it is far from ideal. The flex radiator hose for this vehicle would have the correct diameter at either end, but it would be straight. It would be the installer's job to bend the hose around any obstructions to make the connections. Some vehicles cannot use a flex hose because the angles are too severe. Flex hoses are often wire reinforced.
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Heater Core with Hose AttachedIf you consider the term radiator hose literally, there are only two such hoses. Yet, there are many more coolant hoses under the hood of a car. Hoses carry coolant to and from the the heater core,which is a small radiator housed under the dash of the car. These are called heater hoses, and they are usually less than a inch in diameter. They are purchased by garages in bulk and cut to the length of the job.There may be as much as ten feet of heater hose in any one vehicle. Increasingly, because of intricate configurations of engines, small lengths of molded hose are used to carry fluid though otherwise obstructed routes. - The importance of radiator hoses can't be denied. A failed radiator hose will to leave you on the side of the road. With no way to supply coolant from the engine to the radiator, the engine will quickly overheat. The overheating can rapidly cause irreparable damage to the motor. A radiator hose spraying coolant onto the engine will effect the electronically controlled sensors under the hood. In extreme emergencies, the integrity of the radiator hoses could determine whether you escape physical harm. When a vehicle is stuck in the snow--and the car's heater becomes the only source of heat--running the motor at idle could cause pressure to build up. A weakened radiator hose would be disastrous in such a scenario.
- The use of a flex hose should be considered only as a last resort. Their stiffness can cause leaks at the radiator connections. On antique cars or reconfigured cooling systems in street rods you may not have a choice. Carry a utility knife and electrical tape in your trunk for radiator hose emergencies. If a leak occurs near the end of a hose you may be able to shorten the hose with the knife,removing the failed section, and you could then continue on your way. The tape can be used to cover a pinhole in a radiator hose. Beware of old, otherwise good-looking hoses. Radiator hoses are subject to hardening or softening while not appearing compromised. Always replace any radiator hose that bulges or has rubbed against a moving part, causing a gouge or groove.
