Coolant reservoir return hose

[cold_steel]

Last night as I was getting out of my '97 Ranger (2.3L) I heard a hissing and noticed coolant spraying down under the truck, so this morning I investigated and saw that the hose leading back to my reservoir from just beneath the radiator cap had come loose and was dangling. I reconnected it but there was no clamp or anything, and I had never paid attention to if there was ever one before. Can you guys tell me if i need to worry about a clamp or will it hold like it is? Thanks-

 

[michowski]

just put a ziptie on each end and your done.

 

[danger03ranger]

he said it. it is not a big deal. just ziptie it and be done with it.

 

[86ford]

i do the same thing but use a snake clamp. they are a more shure hold than a zip tie.

86

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

that hose is never under pressure, it just carries excess coolant to and from the radiator. if coolant was spraying out of the truck, then you have a pressure leak somewhere in the cooling system (or a bad radiator cap that is allowing way too much pressure to escape into the overflow tank).

 

[cold_steel]

I looked at the radiator cap and the gasket was a little ratty, so I got a new one from Ford. Had a hell of a time though, the parts house at my local Ford dealership sold me a cap WAY too big for my truck, wouldn't believe me when I told them about it, and when I finally did get them to order the same cap using the part number on the cap itself they told me I had the wrong radiator in my truck. What the hell? I guess the listing in their computer was wrong.

Anyway The problem hasn't recurred, so I guess that was it... didn't even have to use any zipties

 

[MAKG]

You can just replace that hose with bulk vacuum hose if you want.

A simple spring clamp is completely adequate. A dinky hose clamp will work but it's overkill. If the hose isn't expanded and hardened, it really doesn't need anything at all.