I'm getting the green stuff outta the car, replacing the radiator hoses and thermostat. I still don't understand how this whole system works yet so I am wondering this:

1) are the heater hoses as critical a replacement item as the radiator hoses?

2) and should I wait to do the job until I can get the heater hoses too? or can I let the heater hoses slide until my next coolant change (in a couple of years, which will prolly include a citric flush, and the caveats that are entailed therein.)

3) is there a trick/shortcut to changing these hoses without a full fluid change? that is, if I decide to replace them before the citric flush.

Thanks!

~mumbles

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1981 300SD 310+k - R.I.P. Maeby

1) Yes, any hose can leak all your coolant out.

Heater hoses don't appear to be a common source of trouble. I recently replaced the ones on my '82 300D; the original hoses all seemed to be in remarkably good shape.

Drain the radiator into a clean container and reuse the coolant when you the hose job is finished.

Thanks guys! You confirmed what I already suspected.

~mumbles

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1981 300SD 310+k - R.I.P. Maeby

The metal tubes around the firewall are more prone to rust failures than the rubber hoses are. The OE hoses are very good quality. The only ones I've replaced are the two main radiator hoses and the feed hose from the reservoir. And the only reason they leaked is because I replaced the rad & reservoir and the old hoses didn't mate up well to the new units.

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'85 300TD "Puff The Magic Wagon" - Rolling Resto
'19 Mazda CX-9 Signature - Wife's sled
'21 Morgan 3-Wheeler P101 Edition
'95 E300d - SOLD
'84 300TD "Brown Betty" - Miss this one
'81 240D "China Baby" - Farm grocery getter