quick coolant hose question
 

under the thermostat housing there is short rubber hose secured with two clamps. on the upper clamp end, there is coolant leaking. i've tried to tighten the clamp and the green stuff still dribbles out. clearly, this is a sign that it needs to be fixed.

two questions...
1. is it just a matter of getting a new hose and putting it in? will i have to remove the tstat housing?
2. while i'm at this, should i take it as a sign of the condition of the other hoses is questionable? if so, which hoses do i need to change to make the car more reliable. upper and lower radiator hoses obviously. what about heater hoses? any other hoses i need to change while i am already in the hose changing mood?

glad P E H is on vacation. i'm talking about changing things before they break.

thanks in advance! --jts

not sure on your car but on mine that same hose started leaking when it went below freezing a couple of times. it actually seems to be a special part in that it has a solid metal innner lining.
i think it could be replaced with normal coolant hose. the mb dealer cut me a piece (for free.. i know unbelievable but true) bacause he did not have the special part in stock.
anyhow to make a long story short i never installed it as 2 new good quality hose clamps cured the problem using the old part.

as far as i know the t-stat housing must be removed from the block in order to r&r that small length of hose.

good luck

If I'm thinking about the same hose, there is no special part. It's cut from bulk on request.

Did you mention green coolant just to stir up controversy? You could have just said coolant and let the sleeping dog lie. Now someone has to recommend MB branded coolant or Zerex G05 and someone else has to say green coolant has served well for years :)

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

Volkswagen G12 Coolant...
 

best stuff in the world. :p

Pulling the thermostat housing is not difficult and the only sure way to make sure the hose gets seated top and bottom. All the hoses and belts should be inspected by you ( perhaps while you are changing your oil) and these items need to be replaced as a matter of routine PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE .
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it" is the call of the idiot. It also keeps tow trucks and mechanic shops in business.

I have seen them go a long time with the same condition as you describe. This is a job that can wait till warmer weather:) unless you have a heated garage/workshop. It is not too hard to remove/replace the t'stat housing. If you do this job you will want to make sure that you tighten all the fasteners to the proper torque. Some of them are easy to strip.

mine had a steel lining - that is a special part, altho i think it is the original one. the dealer as i said cut me a replacement from stock so it can be replaced with that. i ended up not having to do that though as new hose clamps cured the problem.

if it ain't broke don't fix it !!!

oh and i've been running 'green' coolant for 9 years if that means anything:eek:

Mine would never stop leaking until I stopped using a screwdriver to tighten the clamps and went with a socket and driver. It's a pretty large hose to seal with a screw clamp, and so you have to apply more force to the screw to get the same sealing pressure per inch.

Ken300D

I just replaced that hose on my 82 300D. Yes you have to remove the t-stat housing. Sometimes it's enough to tighten the clamps, but I was doing a coolant change so it was a good time to replace that hose. I went to Kragen with my t-stat housing and bought a radiator hose that fit that opening. Then I cut it at home. The other hoses, other than the radiator hoses, are relatively easy to replace without much coolant loss, so I would just replace them one at a time as they start to leak, unless they are obviously cracked or swollen.

same thing for me Ken ! i actually bought 2 new hose clamps from the mb dealer that were very high quality stainles steel ones. took a socket and tightened 'em up - no leaks since. and it still has the original hose.
:cool: