Collapsed Radiator Hose

Question. When I open the throttle while under the hood, I noticed the upper radiator hose collapsed and when I let off it expands? WTF? Is this common/normal;?

knuckled1 wrote:

Question. When I open the throttle while under the hood, I noticed the upper radiator hose collapsed and when I let off it expands? WTF? Is this common/normal;?

time to replace the upper radiator hose......no it's not normal

Thanks. Yeah I planned on it this week, did lower already. Any particular brand?

they're all good. if you wanna go all out,get the Gates brand. the best. $? who cares! you only live once.

Abaddon wrote:

knuckled1 wrote:

Question. When I open the throttle while under the hood, I noticed the upper radiator hose collapsed and when I let off it expands? WTF? Is this common/normal;?

time to replace the upper radiator hose......no it's not normal

Couldn't that also be indicative of air in the system?
If there was only liquid in the system, then I would think that even the sudden suction of the pump could not pull a vacuum...

Also, did this happen before the thermostat was open? That would probably aggravate the problem.

In my experience, the only time the radiator hoses collapse like that is from a severe blockage (rare), or the hose is "old" and can't hold it's shape under a vacuum.
Yes, it could make sense if the thermostat was closed and it happened, but the coolant flow goes through the upper hose to the thermostat, not from the thermostat to the upper hose.....then again, I'm no "heavy" tech

Yep. Hose. Bad.

Found it! Damn I was lost lookin for this post! This only happened after changing the water pump. I will def change the hose, gates at that. But I noticed the air in the system reply, and seems logical, can i bleed the system thru the thermostat housing? That is pressure relief valve correct? Thanks again for everyones help. Next project-sc coupler and sc oil change. Can a sc pulley be rented anywhere or do you have to purchase them?

I have alot of questions! When switching to modular pulley system, is the pulley itself included?

It is. I didn't use it. Probably messy though. I just took the cap off the overflow tank and squeezed the upper hose now and then while the car was running. Seemed to work.

Happened after thermostat opened. Gonna check it cold and see what hapens.

Yes. Here's the link. It includes the pulley and the modular piece to go on the S.C. It really easy to change. http://www.zzperformance.com/grand_prix/products1.php?id=205&catid=111

Thanks Chris. Gonna try to bleed it now. Update ya later.

Thanks for the link too! Love this forum.

Ya me to. I had been wanting a Riv of this era for like 4 years, but finally got one this year and this site and the people that are apart of it have been tons of help, so I just want to put what I've learned to use and help out another.

Started car cold no collapse, ran to temp thermostat open no collapse! Def was air in the system. Barely opened bleed screw on therm housing steam/air came out. Tried burping hose w overflow open and seems to be fine now. Gonna change hose and bleed system again. Drove me nuts for a day and half!

Sounds like you have alot of air in the system. May as well put a new one on and be done with it. Not like they cost that much.

Quote :

Found it! Damn I was lost lookin for this post!

https://rivperformance.editboard.com/board-news-f2/locating-lost-theads-posts-from-board-faq-t7800.htm#122498

Abaddon wrote:

...but the coolant flow goes through the upper hose to the thermostat, not from the thermostat to the upper hose.....then again, I'm no "heavy" tech

Uhhh, doesn't the cool coolant flow thru the lower hose into the water pump, and then the hot coolant does flow from the stat to the top of the radiator?

Eldo wrote:

Abaddon wrote:

...but the coolant flow goes through the upper hose to the thermostat, not from the thermostat to the upper hose.....then again, I'm no "heavy" tech

Uhhh, doesn't the cool coolant flow thru the lower hose into the water pump, and then the hot coolant does flow from the stat to the top of the radiator?

I have alway thought the hot coolant gets released by the thermostat through the upper hose and into the top of the radiator, then drains down through the radiator, being cooled by the radiator, to the bottom where the water pump draws the cool fluid into the engine for another cycle.

Also, A hose that is capable of being collapsed by normal system pressure (negative pressure or vacuum from the pump) should be replaced.

It would appear that the coolant does come from the lower hose. Like I said, I'm no "heavy" tech. All I know is that when I hook up the coolant machine backwards, it makes a GIANT hot mess

I squeezed the hoze while the coolant was in it while the car was running and it burped my system just fine. I did have to do it a bunch of times, but it worked.

J. Chris Davis wrote:

I squeezed the hoze while the coolant was in it while the car was running and it burped my system just fine. I did have to do it a bunch of times, but it worked.

All you gotta do is loosen the bleeder screw on the thermo neck. Air comes right out.

J. Chris Davis wrote:

I squeezed the hoze while the coolant was in it while the car was running and it burped my system just fine. I did have to do it a bunch of times, but it worked.

Or we just park the car with the nose uphill and let the air burp out the filler neck of the radiator.

I guess the reason I didn't use the screw on the thermostat was I didn't want to have antifreeze come out and make a mess and I was bored and doing other stuff under the hood.