Coolant Hose Replacement

Cost To Replace The Coolant Hose

Last Updated on December 18, 2022
Written by CPA Alec Pow | Content Reviewed by Certified CFA CFA Alexander Popinker

Coolant hoses play an important role and are an essential component of the engine cooling system. In order for the engines to work at the optimal temperature, a cooling system is necessary, ensuring an average temperature of 176 to 194 degrees Fahrenheit.

Without this cooling system, the engines would overheat shortly after starting due to the very high temperatures at which the fuel burns. When the coolant hoses are no longer 100% functional, they should be replaced just in case, so that damage to the entire cooling system is avoided.

How Much Does It Cost To Replace The Coolant Hose?

There are various factors that affect the replacement costs for a coolant hose such as the make and model of the car, the year of your car, whether you purchase aftermarket or OEM parts, the type of coolant hose, and the mechanic you choose. Expect to spend anywhere between $160 and $420 for this repair, with an average cost of $260.

The price of a coolant hose starts at around $50 and goes up to $480, with an average cost of $75. Obviously, OEM parts are more expensive and the coolant hose replacement costs will be higher. For instance, the price of an OEM coolant hose will be anywhere between $80 and $160, while for an aftermarket coolant hose you will have to pay around $50.

In case you don’t want to replace the coolant hose yourself and prefer to hire a mechanic, you should be prepared to pay around $260 on average.

You might also like our articles on the cost of coolant leak repair, radiator replacement, or radiator flush.

On the other hand, if you have one to two hours at your disposal and general mechanic knowledge, you can replace the coolant hose yourself and spend only $50 on average.

Coolant hose replacement hose by car model

The make and model and the year of the car will affect the replacement costs for a coolant hose. To get an idea about it, below you will find the average costs of various car model coolant hoses:

  • Lexus IS300: anywhere between $305 and $475;
  • Honda Accord: anywhere between $130 and $335;
  • Subaru Forester: anywhere between $135 and $290;
  • Toyota Camry: anywhere between $165 and $290;
  • Ford F-150: anywhere between $185 and $270;
  • Chevy Impala: anywhere between $140 and $265;
  • Jeep Grand Cherokee: anywhere between $115 and $275.

Keep in mind that these costs can vary depending on the shop you choose and the part that is used.

Coolant hose replacement hose by brand

The cost of a coolant hose replacement will be influenced by the brand and here are presented the average costs for some of the most popular brands:

  • Volkswagen: anywhere between $235 and $390;
  • BMW: anywhere between $320 and $515;
  • Toyota: anywhere between $170 and $335;
  • Nissan: anywhere between $150 and $340;
  • Honda: anywhere between $175 and $360.

Coolant hose replacement by the shop

The place where you are living and the mechanic you choose for replacing the coolant hose will affect the overall costs. Here are the average costs charged by some of the most popular shops:

  • Walmart: anywhere between $140 and $300;
  • Midas: anywhere between $180 and $355;
  • Auto Dealership: anywhere between $190 and $375;
  • Meineke: anywhere between $160 and $285;
  • Local Mechanic: anywhere between $140 and $275;
  • Pep Boys: anywhere between $180 and $365;
  • Tire: anywhere between $170 and $335.

As you can see, the prices charged by auto dealerships are the highest because they use OEM parts, while the rates charged by an aftermarket shop or a local mechanic are lower because they use aftermarket parts and the labor rates are lower as well.

Cost of coolant hose replacement parts

The price of coolant hose replacement parts is relatively low. For instance, the price of a coolant hose itself is only around $80.

The cost of the OEM parts will be, obviously, much higher, with prices starting at around $100 and going up to $260. On the other hand, the price of an aftermarket coolant hose will be around $75.

Here are the prices charged by various stores for a coolant hose:

  • Walmart: anywhere between $35 and $135;
  • Autozone: anywhere between $70 and $240;
  • eBay: anywhere between $60 and $385;
  • O’Reilly Auto Parts: anywhere between $70 and $315;
  • Amazon: anywhere between $40 and $560.

Coolant hose overview

Coolant Hose FailureThe cooling system is based on several components, among which we list a water pump, a thermostat, fan, radiator, various hoses and even the engine itself. There are two types of engine cooling systems, the one that uses liquid for this purpose (system used in most engines) and the one with air.

In a typical car cooling system, we will find at least 4 main hoses.

First of all, we have the upper house of the radiator that leads directly from the thermostat housing (on the intake manifold or on the cylinder head) to the upper part of the radiator.

The lower hose is attached to the lower part of the radiator. Pulled by the engine’s water pump, this coolant passes through the radiator. This hose and the upper radiator hose are the largest of the cooling system hoses, and both are attached to the front of the engine block.

To withstand the vibrations and movements of the engine without breaking, the hoses of the cooling system must be flexible. To accomplish this, traditional (and OEM) cooling hoses feature outer layers made of a durable rubber compound. Under the outer layer of rubber, we find a reinforcing mesh of flexible fabric, designed to withstand high levels of heat and pressure.

Important things to consider

As a rule, universal coolant hoses are made of a mixture of rubber and a fabric insert, but sometimes they are made of silicone. Furthermore, the coolant hose can be perforated or straight.

When you choose a hose for the cooling liquid, it is important that it has a high temperature resistance and is durable to cracking, it absorbs vibrations and shocks, but also seals perfectly.

Symptoms of a broken coolant hose

There are a few signs you should pay attention to if you believe that the coolant hose is damaged. Among the symptoms of a broken coolant hose are the following:

  • the vehicle is running hotter than usual;
  • low coolant level;
  • a strange smell comes from your car;
  • a hissing or loud gurling noise;
  • coolant leaks.

How often should I replace a coolant hose?

Manufacturers of car cooling hoses do not specify a fixed mileage for changing it with a new one. However, it is recommended to change it every 60,000 to 90,000 miles.

Conclusion

The replacement of a damaged coolant hose is an important car repair which should be performed as soon as possible. In case you don’t pay attention to this problem and continue to drive your car with a damaged hose, you risk to completely damage your car’s engine.

It is highly recommended to resolve this problem in the shortest time possible and avoid other costly car repairs.

Alec Pow
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