Heater hoses

[Terry]

I have an 86 ranger ext cab. My heater hoses are shot. I had to cut the end off of one at the store the other day to get home. I have replaced everything else over the last 2 years when I did the water pump. I went to Kragen yesterday for the hoses. The person at the counter says that the hose that goes from the core to the pump is a special shaped hose? They look like they were replaced before with standard hose before. Should I order the special hose or just use the cut to length stuff?

 

[engdept]

He is full of crap. A heater hose is a heater hose.

 

[Terry]

I want to the counter and had them look up the hose size. The special hose showed up on the computer? I don't want a kink or sharp bend that will give me greif?

 

[engdept]

just buy heater hose by the foot. You don't need any special heater hose for a Bronco II.

 

[snoopjonnyjon]

When my Ranger had a 3.0L in it, it did require a special hose. The water pump had a larger diameter than the heater core, so the hose flared out on the last 2-3 inches.

 

[engdept]

When my Ranger had a 3.0L in it, it did require a special hose. The water pump had a larger diameter than the heater core, so the hose flared out on the last 2-3 inches.

Yea the old 3.0's do that, BUT he has an '86 which has a 2.9 and I know for a fact that it doesn't take special heater hoses.

 

[Terry]

Ok,
Called the dealer at lunch. They list 5/8 bulk hose. Where did Kragen get info on this hose for their database? Anybody know how much hose I need?

 

[engdept]

Take your hold hoses and measure them.

 

[Terry]

Ill buy the bulk hose and be done with it. Its kinda strange. Kragen and Carquest list a special hose. Dealer and LMC truck do not?

 

[adam2kgt]

Well, I just replaced both heater hoses on my 88 Ranger 2.9 yesterday, 5/8 inch hose. I bought 8 ft of bulk hose, but you could probably get away with 6 feet of hose. No special bends or anything, all nice gradual curves in the hoses. I would buy a piece at least 7 feet long if I were you, better to scrap a little extra than buy a whole new piece cause you end up an inch too short (been there, it sucks!)

 

[Terry]

I bought 6 feet last night as well as a flush t. My truck has 130,000 on it and the hoses had ford stickers on them? I changed the hoses out and flushed it real good. So far it has dropped 15 degrees on my temp gage. It gets to 185 and drops off just like it is supposed to? Might make for a cold winter?

 

[mjonesjr]

If your temp gauge is dropping at 180*, then you have a bad t-stat. The engine temp should stay at 190* after the truck warms up. The temp gauge reads the temperature from the block, not the radiator.

 

[AllanD]

The 3.0's require a specially moulded hose (it has a larger diameter at the engine end)

And the 2.3 requires a moulded (or crimped T) in one line.
(I discuss elimination of this in another post in the sub-forum)

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[Terry]

M jones
I put a 185" stat in my truck as per factory. I have a aftermarket gage on my truck. If I am staying cold why would you think that my stat was bad? The truck cooling system works great, it is opening the stat at between 185 and 190? I can watch it move on the gage. Where did I say I was getting my reading from the radiator?

 

[RangerMan64]

I just changed my hoses today, bought 8ft and only used about 6.5ft. I would recommend getting 7ft to be on the safe side. The diameter is 5/8in like said before.