Heater Hose question (2 Viewers)

[YetiCruiser14]

Ive been monitoring a coolant leak on one of my heater hoses. Doesnt seem like the leak is getting worse so Im attaching a pic to ask if this is something to worry about? Maybe replace the hose already? Looks new as my mechanic baselined it last February.

I have a camping trip 3 weeks from now so getting the truck dialed in to make sure its good to go. TIA

 

[GeoRoss]

I would replace the heater valve. Yours isn’t the worst I’ve seen, but that is one way those heater hoses start to leak.

 

[Devils Paw 80]

X2 on comment above. If the heater valve is original then that's likely your problem.

 

[YetiCruiser14]

X2 on comment above. If the heater valve is original then that's likely your problem.

Both the heater valve and hose were replaced less than a year ago.

 

[mesa man]

Get in there, get your hands dirty and see exactly why it’s leaking. Maybe just need a tighter clamp ? I just did a rear heater bypass hose and rockauto has the valve for about 25$.

 

[BTLSHP]

Those do not look like the Toyota clamps I used. But the heater valve is not looking like it is only a year old

 

[Kernal]

The hoses appear generic and cut to fit.

Best guess is the clamp is not squeezing equally or tightly enough around the hose to make a good seal.

However as already mentioned it might also be a crack in the side pipe to the heat control valve so the only thing to do is to disconnect the hose on the right in the photo and carefully inspect the side pipe for cracks and the hose for defects.

If you find nothing, a quick fix might be to purchase a BREEZE Constant torque clamp based on the OD of the replacement hose.

Breeze - Breeze Constant-Torque® - Breeze Hose Clamps

www.breezehoseclamps.com

You might also want to invest in a good rubber hose cutter. They're all about the same but IME the blades are often
not super sharp so I take a knife sharpening tool and clean up the blade a bit. Also FWIW a swipe of silicone grease
on the blade before cutting the rubber hose helps the blade go through, IME.

OTC 4509 Straight-Blade Hose Cutter | Mile-X Equipment

OTC 4509 Cuts rubber hoses ranging from 1/4" to 1-1/2". Simply place hose in tool & squeeze handle to cut.

www.mile-x.com

 

[YetiCruiser14]

The hoses appear generic and cut to fit.

Best guess is the clamp is not squeezing equally or tightly enough around the hose to make a good seal.

However as already mentioned it might also be a crack in the side pipe to the heat control valve so the only thing to do is to disconnect the hose on the right in the photo and carefully inspect the side pipe for cracks and the hose for defects.

If you find nothing, a quick fix might be to purchase a BREEZE Constant torque clamp based on the OD of the replacement hose.

Breeze - Breeze Constant-Torque® - Breeze Hose Clamps

www.breezehoseclamps.com

You might also want to invest in a good rubber hose cutter. They're all about the same but IME the blades are often
not super sharp so I take a knife sharpening tool and clean up the blade a bit. Also FWIW a swipe of silicone grease
on the blade before cutting the rubber hose helps the blade go through, IME.

OTC 4509 Straight-Blade Hose Cutter | Mile-X Equipment

OTC 4509 Cuts rubber hoses ranging from 1/4" to 1-1/2". Simply place hose in tool & squeeze handle to cut.

www.mile-x.com

I will check it out if to see if there are cracks. Followup question, do I need to drain the coolant for this process? I do not want to get to that scenario if I am just checking for cracks. Might as well replace the actual valve if I will be needing to drain the coolant anyways.

 

[BTLSHP]

I would wait until you are ready to do the valve as you will be losing a bit of coolant in the process. The is the top of the system so you won’t lose much

 

[Devils Paw 80]

I will check it out if to see if there are cracks. Followup question, do I need to drain the coolant for this process? I do not want to get to that scenario if I am just checking for cracks. Might as well replace the actual valve if I will be needing to drain the coolant anyways.

No you don't. If the valve really is fairly new I'd just work on that hose.

 

[BTLSHP]

The valve is not as brown as the 30 year old valve I took off ours a year ago but the plastic has an awful lot of brown discoloration like my failing radiator..

 

[YetiCruiser14]

I can guarantee that the valve and hose were replaced last February. Anyway ill check them out myself i want to learn to work on my rig if its just some light work like this as I should be

Last Night i wiped the area down. Ill monitor it the next couple of days if the coolant sip comes back to see whats going on.