97 4.6 F150. I've never changed the radiator hoses. Bottom one is around $40 dollars and top around 20. Do most of you change them? No leaking and by appearance look okay. Thanks, Tom S

 

If there's anything that's guaranteed to bone you on the highway, it's belt and hose failures. I replace all the hoses and belts on my vehicles every 4 years. I read an article some years ago that stated that the belts and hoses of a car would start to fail within 5 years time, even if they look good from the outside. Of course, the hoses weaken from the inside out and generally deteriorate the fastest at the bends in the hose.
Just go down to the parts store and say you want replacement hoses for whatever you're driving, and their computer will spit out part numbers galore. My T-Bird's hoses run about $60 for everything, and my current F-150 isn't old enough yet, but my old '90 XLT Lariat cost about $50 for a complete changeover. There was some hoses in the box that defied identification until I started looking around the engine compartment for them. Geez, it's amazing what you'll find to replace.

 

Tom S,
The addage, "Pay now, play later; play now, pay later" came to mind when I read your post. Every 4 years for the change-out sounds like good advice.

Curt

 

I agree 4 years or 60k miles you should replace the hoses. You can't tell if there are bad by looking at them, they can rot-out from the inside and you would never know it.