As is the norm, it’s Christmas so something expensive has to break. First it was my water heater ($470). Now the radiator in my car ('94 Escort) is about to go. It’s one of the those aluminum/plastic deals that cannot be repaired. I ordered a new one online ($99 versus $175+ locally :eek: ). This looks to be a relatively easy job despite the fact that I am not mechanically inclined.
The question:
Should I replace the hoses and thermostat while I’m replacing the radiator? I’m pretty sure the hoses will need to go, but I’m not sure about the thermostat.
Go ahead and change the thermostat too. It will add only a few minutes to your job. A new radiator cap and coolant should also be on the shopping list. And a good flush of your cooling system would not hurt. After removing the old radiator, remove the old thermostat and reinstall the thermostat housing. Put a trigger style spray on your garden host and adjust it for full pressure. Stick the sprayer in the upper radiator hose and using 3 to 6 second blasts, flush out the system till the water runs clear. This will help remove some of the rust and scale. Install all the new parts with a 50/50 mix of coolant/water then run the engine up to operating temperature and check for leaks.
Thermostat. Hoses. Hose clamps. Do belt(s) while you’re at it, it’s the easiest time to do it. If you have over 70,000 miles on the car and haven’t had it done, change or have the timing belt changed too. Doing the water pump at that time is also a good idea.
Thermostat it is, then.
I’m going to replace the clamps since the factory ones are the spring types which are a bitch to change. Thankfully, the engine in my car is the one with a timing chain and not a belt. The serpentine belt was replaced last year. I’m going to have to lay off the water pump for now since it’s a bear to get to and I certainly don’t have the skills to tackle it.