Symptoms of a Bad or Faulty Radiator Hose

Common symptoms include a coolant leak, an engine overheating, a low coolant indicator light on, and a damaged or broken radiator hose.

The radiator hose is part of your vehicle's cooling system. The hose carries coolant to the radiator where the fluid is cooled and then back to the engine to prevent the car from overheating. This allows your vehicle to operate at the optimum temperature and prevents the engine from overheating or becoming cold. There are two hoses going to the radiator. The top hose is attached from the top of the radiator to the top of the engine on the thermostat housing. The lower hose connects from the bottom of the radiator to the engine's water pump. If you suspect that one of the radiator hoses is defective, look out for the following symptoms:

1. Coolant leak

If you notice green fluid under your car, it's likely that coolant is leaking from your car. This liquid will have a sweet smell. Fluid can come from the radiator hose, radiator drain cock, or from the radiator itself. Because there are many possibilities, it's important to have a professional mechanic diagnose the problem. They will be able to replace the radiator hose if that is the problem.

2. Engine overheating

The car engine should not overheat, so once you notice this symptom, then something is wrong with the cooling system. The radiator hose may be to blame because it cracks and leaks over the years due to the high heat and pressure it is subjected to. The radiator hose is the most common cause of overheating. If the engine continues to overheat, it may lead to engine failure and the vehicle will no longer run.

3. Low coolant level

If the low coolant indicator light comes on or you have to keep adding coolant, there may be a leak in the radiator hose. This type of leak should be visible as drops where the car has been parked. Driving on a low coolant level is not a good idea as you could run out of the car on the way to your destination. This means that your vehicle could stall or overheat and end up on the side of the road causing severe engine damage.

4. Destroyed radiator hose.

If you look under the hood and notice that the radiator hose has fallen apart, then there is a problem. The hose may break because the hose is soft or has become too weak. In other cases, a malfunction in the cooling system can lead to a hose rupture. In any case, an inspection must be carried out, as a flattened coolant hose cannot properly pass the coolant. This can cause the vehicle to overheat and damage the engine.

5. Torn radiator hose.

The radiator hose can be broken in many ways. If you feel comfortable inspecting it yourself, check for leaks, bulges, holes, kinks, cracks, or softness in the hose. As soon as you notice any of these, your radiator hose needs to be replaced because it has gone bad.

As soon as you notice a coolant leak, your engine is overheating, the low coolant light comes on, or your radiator hose is broken, have a professional mechanic inspect and/or replace the radiator hose. AvtoTachki makes radiator hose repairs easy by coming to your home or office to diagnose or fix problems. You can order the service online 24/7. Qualified technical specialists of AvtoTachki are also ready to answer any questions you may have.