One more about my truck. Could the ancient hoses and the leaky heater hose cause the engine to run warm.?

Question

I found out on my 87 Ranger that the heater hose is leaking a little and all the hoses are original. As I have posted before sometimes it runs warm. Not overheating but getting to about 3/4 on the temp gague then dropping down. Could the leaks cause a pressure issue that could do this? I was gonna do the thermostat, but I fear the hose may disintegrate

Answer 1

To keep an older vehicle running cooler without going into self destruct mode replace the items from cheapest to most exspensive.

Thermostat- @$3-6 dollars don't let an old junky thermostat stick closed and burn up an engine...

Fan belt(s)- @$10 dollars purchase new belts and install. Place used belts in trunk or behind seat to have on hand as spares. Adjust new belt correctly.

Hoses and clamps-@20 dollars each all new hoses keep used hoses in a garage or shed as spares.

Heater core- @150 dollars or more installed.. old ones become hopelessly clogged especially for those people who love powdered stop leak.

Radiator- @100-500 dollars installed old radiaters used to be rodded at to be used again. Radiaters today cannot be rodded out for putting holes in the thin low quality steel.

A new radiater will set you back a few C notes but if the heat gauge is drifting higher toward the orange or red.. bite the bullet and plan on a new radiator. Used ones are probably no good and should only be used if no alternative.

Answer 2

It sound like you have a t-stat that stay open. This will keep you from get heat. It will also hide a leak because there is less press on the system. The heat box has a drain tube. It will go to the ground. Check you main cool cap with a pressure test. The last one is easy to do. Start it up and go to the tail pip. It you smell coolant heavy back there. The you have a blow en head gasket. A open t-stat or a mail radiator cap will hide this. The cap and cooling system can be checked at Auto Zone in some cases. The inlet hose to heater core should be so hot you cannot hold it,

Answer 3

Well, this begs more than one answer. First, If all the hoses are indeed original, they really,really are due to be changed. Bad hoses can collapse, or partially collapse, especially under use(as engine warms up), this can cause restricted flow, resulting in temperature rise. Second, a leaking hose will cause loss of fluid, this can cause temperature rise. Third, any cooling system leak prevents system attaining proper pressure, pressure raises the boiling point of water/ coolant, if system does not operate under proper pressure, it can overheat. Change hoses, have radiator, and radiator cap tested, and replaced as necessary, also, change coolant(with proper mix) at least once a year. Check your coolant level a minimum of once a week, IF the system is operating properly. These are not all inclusive, but should give you a place to start . Good luck, I hope this helps. burts chevy.

Answer 4

Absolutely.

When the hoses get older, they lose the ability to keep the pressure in the system. Your coolant system should be at about 5 psi. Old hoses can reduce that.

The other thing I'd be willing to bet is that you haven't done a coolant flush in a while.

Your radiator builds up approximately 10% blockage per year. It can run efficiently even with 30% blockage, but past that, you're starting to have problems. You should flush your radiator every 3-5 years. And you should replace your hoses at the same time.

The hoses are subjected to an extreme amount of heat and deteriorate over the years. It's amazing that one of your hoses hasn't ruptured yet.

Flush your system and backflush your radiator. Once all of the cooling jackets in your engine and your radiator is clean, you'll notice your engine running in the normal range again.

Answer 5

It's time to change those hoses out. Being they are 20 yrs old I'd say you got your use out of them as they are supposed to be changed every 4 yrs. The lower radiator hose could be collapsing and restricting flow which will cause hotter running. Most likely what's happening is water is leaking out and air is getting into the system. The radiator water level drops which causes flow problems to the upper radiator hose and the vehicle will overheat. Your hoses are going to bust eventually due to age. They are living on borrowed time now. Change them out and the thermostat all at once including the heater hoses.

Answer 6

The heater hose is cheaper than dirt, what you may be experiencing is low water because of the leaky hose, sometimes the temp sensor device is sensing air not water. They reside in the intake manifold and when water gets low, the reading you get is false, this also is intermittent. You need a leak free tight system to believe your temp gauge. Spend a few $, motor changes are expensive.

Answer 7

If you have a small leak that would be enough to keep it alittle warm, but not Running hot. Until the fluid gets to Low. Personally I would replace all of the hoses and that should fix the problem.

Answer 8

Change the thermostat and the hoses and flush. Check the water pump for excessive wear and noise and looseness. It could be the heater core. yes the pressures change and could effect the ,head gaskets.2.9 or 3.0 motors need the cooling system working right and if the miles are over 100,000 get it done quickly.

Answer 9

i own a shop,and leak means it loosing pressure,and these systems run on pressure,,if it looses some of the pressure needed ,it will make it run warm but not hot,and if it has a bad hose on it this will add to the temperature also,,a bad hose will close up on releasing of the hotter coolant from the motor,,and this causes a temporary rise in temperature,on some vehicles,,good luck hope this has helped,,good luck with it.,,have a good x-mas.

Answer 10

yup, change all your hoses,replace the heater,change your thermostat, and do a full flush on your cooling system.a properly maintained vehicle wont leak.the coolant is what keeps your truck at a proper operating level, running hot can lean your fuel out cause the engine is trying to cool itself, and youll yhave detonation issues,which can destroy the pistons.also with aluminum heads theyll warp if they get too warm.