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Lower radiator hose problem...


Galaxie500XL

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OK...sorry to bother everyone on what should be a simple problem...while I was in Minnesota for work, my wife discovered the lower radiator hose leaking on the LQ1. Seemed odd to me, because both the hose and radiator were replaced with new items in August. Got home, found the lower hose where it attached to the radiator had back off of the inlet, yet the clamp seemed tight. Loosened the clamp, moved the hose back in position, then tightened the hose clamp....problem solved, right?

 

Left on another trip...the wife reports the hose has backed off AGAIN, and the car is once more leaking antifreeze.

 

My inclination is to buy another new hose, and clamp...but now I'm not so sure. I realize the inlets are plastic, but can't imagine why a hose less than 6 months old won't stay in place....

 

Am I overlooking something here, and have any of you every had this issue?

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Best I could venture is one of 2 things.

 

aftermarket hose you got is a touch shorter / less flexable then the old hose and instead of flexing with engine movement it is staying put and working itself off.

or

your engine mounts are all *really* shot and all the excess movement is hell on the hose, however I would be much more inclined to believe the former

 

If it were me I would get a new hose/clamps from a different store and try again.

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That's pretty much what I'm planning to do, once I get back home....

 

While I've got it apart, I'll also check to make sure the inlet isn't cracked, which would allow the hose to be loose...but I've never seen a cracked inlet before.

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Well, found the problem....the worm gear hose clamp had basically self-destructed internally, and was no longer holding the hose tightly. Never had one that failed months after installation, but I guess now I have...

 

Went ahead and replaced clamp and hose, just to be safe, and successfully "burped" the LQ1...something that I'd always had problems with in the past...

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