How to tell if the PHH needs to be replaced?

[Altaf]

Took a look at the pesky heater hose (PHH) this evening. I'm not sure if it's ever been replaced - the Cruiser has 93,000 miles. Can anyone tell if it's the original hose and if it needs to be replaced? I'm not sure what to look for besides obvious bulging and leaking.

 

[bjowett]

Looks original....It needs replacement.

 

[Rich]

It is factory original, based on the cotter pin clamp. The mud hides any pictorial evidence of leaking. The hose fails from the inside out. The bulging of the hose that is visible in your picture indicates that the hose has begun to deteriate.

Given that the newest US 80 series is going on 8 years old, I would say any factory original hose is due for replacement.

 

[Gumby]

No question it's origonal. Unless someone was masochistic enough to use the factory clamps. It's pretty swollen. I'd replace it soon.

How do you know if it needs replacing:

1. It visibly seeps.
2. It has crusty deposits on the ends
3. It's swollen (like yours)
4. it is nearing 100,000 miles

5. It's blown out and all your antifreeze is all over the road. :whoops:

 

[Altaf]

After comparing it to the one Slee's site, I thought mine was in great shape... guess not ! Is this something that I can wait doing until the Spring or would I be pushing my luck?

 

[Rich]

It might last years longer. Nobody is going to be able to accurately predict when yours is going to fail.

I replaced mine with less than 50K miles on it. On the outside it looked like yours. There was visible evidence of some coolant seepage along the fibers of the hose reinforcement fabric. No dripping coolant, but hose end was crusty. Once removed and split end to end slight interior cracking of the inner hose surface was visible.

I'm sure my hose would have lasted years longer. But it was clear to my that it was going to be replaced, and as far as I was concerned, the sooner the better.

I replaced it with Gates Greenstripe hose which is visibly much more substantial than the Toyota hose. It is reputed by Gates to be as durable as silicone hose (which Gates also sells), and less likely to seep coolant when cold. It is more trouble to install as it much stiffer than factory hose or silicone hose.