Hey fellas,

Went to firestone to have both hoses replaced and the cooling system flushed. When i picked it up they said everything is done but the lower hose. Local parts stores didn't have it and it looks good and doesn't need to be replaced.

I want to replace it so all is done right. Can I just catch all the fluid in a pan by unscrewing the lower pet **** on the radiator , remove the hose catch that fluid too and put it all that drain out back in?
When adding crank the heat ,blower on hi and keep adding to the reservoir until it takes no more.
Thoughts / advise , Thanks

 

I would put the blower on low. If you put it on high the thermostat will stay closed longer and it will take you longer to fill it back up.

 

I know they can fail, but all the radiator hoses I've seen failed were upper hoses. I did once see a fellow have a lower hose collapse, but then he explained that when he put a new one on, he took out the spring, so I just called him a tow. The lower hose sees cooler coolant and suction where as the top one sees hotter coolant and pressure from pushing the coolant through when the thermostat opens. I've seen top hoses pushed off the thermostat housing on police cars which were started near cold to go on an emergency from the office, wide open, then when maybe 2 miles away when temp gets up, that thermostat opened and sudden flow popped the hose. I've never seen a lower hose rip open, but I have seen top hoses blow out.