Rad Hose DIY?
 

Does anyone on here have a DIY on how to remove and replace the radiator hoses on our car. I was planning on doing a coolant system flush soon and figured i might as well order some silicon radiator hoses and replace my hoses while im at it. Just wondering if someone on here had some pics or a writeup to guide me through it since i havent done it on my 8 yet. Ive searched through all of RX8club, google and the manual on foxed.ca and nothing on how to replace our hoses.

You really need a DIY to replace two hoses?

There are DIY's on radiator replacements. My only advise is to be careful because the radiator is plastic so cut the old hoses off. And use radiator hose grease when you reinstall the new ones.

Well there are silicone hose kits with 3 and 6 hoses.. So thats what throws me off. I know obviously most cars have upper and lower rad hoses but id like to see where the other hoses would go if i ordered a 3 piece or 6 piece silicon hose kit.

It's pretty obvious, they are all in the same general area and go from the radiator and reservoir to the thermostat housing on the engine.

Attachment 232517

From this thread https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-trouble-shooting-95/samco-6-pc-rad-hoses-where-does-piece-go-213998/

the only part u gotta be real careful (assume you have stock rad) is the one that sits right below the coolant overflow bottle, it connects to a small nipple on top of the radiator.

take the hose off from the bottle first. then twist the hose slowly left and right and it will come out without breaking the plastic nipple on the radiator.

if u break the nipple, chances are the radiator is finished, u will need a new one.

Thanks that pic is quite helpful...and I do have the stock Rad. so ill be extra careful about the nipple.

That's why I said to just cut the old hoses off. Don't risk pulling them off, the brittle plastic is brittle.

no need to pull, just twist it slightly left and right, not too hard, then eventually it will just come off.

op, while you have it apart its a good time to upgrade to the mazmart water pump and t stat. when i did mine i replaced all coolant hoses, rad, tstat, wp, coolant tank. pm me if you have any questions or need help. im about two hours away but if you want to take a drive ill give you a hand

Use a thin, flat head screw driver to help loosen the old radiator hose by sliding it underneath the end of the hose and prying it gently while attempting to rotate it to loosen it up. I've done this on all of my vehicles and makes it much, much more easier. Without this method I can't imagine how much of a fight it would be for old radiator hoses to get loose.

or there is a tool for this job

I'd prefer a flat head screw driver just because it's a flat surface for prying instead of a sharp end to push into the hose using a radiator hose tool. That said in areas where you'd have to have it at quite an inconvenient angle the tools could be handy.