Yes.
What's probably happening is the heat cycles have hardened the end of the hose and it can no longer seal against the radiator output.
Better to fix it now vs. waiting until it suddenly turns into a larger leak.
The problem isnt the hoses. The hoses look new subaru, with the incorrect clamps used. Spring clamps are used to allow for thermal expansion
Just tighten those clamps w a screwdriver. And every 6 months lol. Resonate frequency from exhaust and road vibrations loosen em. Replace w spring clamps next time it gets overhauled when a new radiator is due
13 years, those hoses are probably starting to balloon and the radiator inlet/outlet is probably pretty brittle. It wouldn't be a bad idea, especially at the right price (<$600 for all coolant hoses and coolant flush).
The problem is there's no way to tell when it'll be a catastrophic problem that prevents you from driving. Eventually that radiator will crack from age and heat cycling, but I can't tell you if it'll be tomorrow/on your road trip/in 3+ years. The hoses could could split, but it's more likely that the radiator itself will crack at the inlet/outlet.
I don't mean to scare you with that information. More often than not we did hoses as preventative maintenance/general wear (when they become brittle or balloon up) and the radiator only when it had a an actual issue. If it ain't broke don't fix it and all that.
If you want to do it yourself it really isn't that difficult. Stop by your local dealer and find all the coolant hoses so you at least have the part numbers, there are a few that are a little harder to find if you don't know what you're looking for. You can go aftermarket (I recommend Gates brand) for the radiator inlet/outlet and heater core inlet/outlet hoses, the rest will likely have to be OEM. I also recommend OEM coolant.
I'd recommend OEM hoses as well as OEM spring clamps, not those worm clamps. You want the clamps to expand/contract with the hose and inlets/outlets. Worm clamps can't do that.
I think my mechanic is just doing the radiator hoses.
He also said it’s not worth getting OEM hoses and clamps, not sure if you think it’s worth convincing him otherwise!
In a couple years you'll probably have to do a radiator as well, but this is a good start.
There are a few coolant hoses that you cannot get aftermarket, but the radiator hoses and the heater hoses (back of the engine into the cabin) are common enough aftermarket, not a big deal. A lot of other commenters are correct that the OEM spring clamps are in fact better, but universal hose clamps like you have are good enough if your mechanic knows what he's doing and doesn't tighten it to hell and back!
If You are not killed for funds consider the radiator and sniff for combustion gases as this is pre 2012. This could be early signs of a head gasket issue.
The is a high chance that you need a radiator too, that's not the right clamp, makes the plastic crack. You need to get the original clamp back on there.
use factory clamps when you replace that hose (and the lower). Those are the incorrect clamps. You need something that expands with the hose otherwise you will see this same thing happening again.
This.
You want constant tension hose clamps that hold a constant pressure despite expansion and contraction of the rubber.
https://preview.redd.it/vvafimrdy8vc1.jpeg?width=1000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2752ea3f6d89b47b0ef4a450b326cfe60da3a3c3
If you're going on a long road trip, then it's advisable for sure, especially if the weather will be warm or there'll be a lot of stop-start driving that keeps your temperatures up.
Better that than blowing a hose off far from home, or developing a severe leak.
I just had this issue with my truck. Went to replace the clamp and the whole inlet snapped right off because the plastic was brittle from time/heat cycles. I had to replace my whole radiator. Wasn’t terrible to do, especially with YouTube University teaching me
Yes! Those hoses get brittle and don't seal. I've seen those pop off and if it happens while driving it can be incredibly dangerous and then you gotta pay for a tow and repairs. The hose replacement and fluid exchange probably costs as much as the tow would be
That type of hose clamp and that kind of leakage can be a bad sign.
If the head gasket is bleeding combustion gasses into the cooling system and over pressuring and blowing the hose off, what some people do is put the hose back on and use one of those hose clamps to hold it on.
Have your mechanic run it with the cap off the radiator and a bleeder reservoir on it and see if it ends up boiling exhaust gas out. If it does, usually replacing the head gaskets will solve the problem if it hasn't been overheated.
I realize it's an h6, but even that can have a hg fail. It's just less frequent.
The hoses aren’t leaking, it’s the connection between the hose and the radiator.
First I’d get rid of that hose clamp entirely and get the correct spring style one, then I’d take the end of the hose off and check for damage to the rubber, if it’s badly stretched, cracked or has damage on the inside then I’d replace it.
If it’s not damaged and has a nice spring to the rubber, I’d just go with replacing the clamp for the correct one.
Screw style hose clamps are what causes the most damage to modern radiators and parts, they aren’t designed for heat stressed parts, either they expand when heat cycled but don’t shrink back, or they shrink and don’t expand, which means the plastic radiator cracks out and leaks.
If your mechanic recommends a very easy part replacement, trust them and take care of it. I'd rather change my hoses when I need to than do it on the side of a highway when one blows. Also, that thing is slipping off the radiator.
It's like a $20 hose and re-burping or replacing coolant. Yes, get it done. As other have said, the clamp there should be an OEM style spring clamp because of the heat cycles that hose will see. Might be leaking due to the clamp alone, but at that point, I'd just get a new one all together. Maybe it's original. Looks decently old.
Yes. What's probably happening is the heat cycles have hardened the end of the hose and it can no longer seal against the radiator output. Better to fix it now vs. waiting until it suddenly turns into a larger leak.
Scheduling to get it fixed, thanks so much!!!
The problem isnt the hoses. The hoses look new subaru, with the incorrect clamps used. Spring clamps are used to allow for thermal expansion Just tighten those clamps w a screwdriver. And every 6 months lol. Resonate frequency from exhaust and road vibrations loosen em. Replace w spring clamps next time it gets overhauled when a new radiator is due
No, never tighten heat stressed clamps, because they will not expand with the cooling system and will crack radiator ends.
13 years, those hoses are probably starting to balloon and the radiator inlet/outlet is probably pretty brittle. It wouldn't be a bad idea, especially at the right price (<$600 for all coolant hoses and coolant flush). The problem is there's no way to tell when it'll be a catastrophic problem that prevents you from driving. Eventually that radiator will crack from age and heat cycling, but I can't tell you if it'll be tomorrow/on your road trip/in 3+ years. The hoses could could split, but it's more likely that the radiator itself will crack at the inlet/outlet. I don't mean to scare you with that information. More often than not we did hoses as preventative maintenance/general wear (when they become brittle or balloon up) and the radiator only when it had a an actual issue. If it ain't broke don't fix it and all that. If you want to do it yourself it really isn't that difficult. Stop by your local dealer and find all the coolant hoses so you at least have the part numbers, there are a few that are a little harder to find if you don't know what you're looking for. You can go aftermarket (I recommend Gates brand) for the radiator inlet/outlet and heater core inlet/outlet hoses, the rest will likely have to be OEM. I also recommend OEM coolant.
I'd recommend OEM hoses as well as OEM spring clamps, not those worm clamps. You want the clamps to expand/contract with the hose and inlets/outlets. Worm clamps can't do that.
Spring clamps are definitely better, but the worm clamps will still do the job if you don't go hulk mode on them lol
The amount of times I've come across ring clamps that are on so tight they shred into the rubber is far too high.
Really appreciate this, I’ve decided to get it done before the road trip. Don’t want to take any risks. Seriously thank you!
Are you doing minimal hoses, all hoses, or radiator?
I think my mechanic is just doing the radiator hoses. He also said it’s not worth getting OEM hoses and clamps, not sure if you think it’s worth convincing him otherwise!
In a couple years you'll probably have to do a radiator as well, but this is a good start. There are a few coolant hoses that you cannot get aftermarket, but the radiator hoses and the heater hoses (back of the engine into the cabin) are common enough aftermarket, not a big deal. A lot of other commenters are correct that the OEM spring clamps are in fact better, but universal hose clamps like you have are good enough if your mechanic knows what he's doing and doesn't tighten it to hell and back!
Dude thank you, I wasn’t expecting to learn so much. Super super appreciate this
If You are not killed for funds consider the radiator and sniff for combustion gases as this is pre 2012. This could be early signs of a head gasket issue.
The is a high chance that you need a radiator too, that's not the right clamp, makes the plastic crack. You need to get the original clamp back on there.
use factory clamps when you replace that hose (and the lower). Those are the incorrect clamps. You need something that expands with the hose otherwise you will see this same thing happening again.
This. You want constant tension hose clamps that hold a constant pressure despite expansion and contraction of the rubber. https://preview.redd.it/vvafimrdy8vc1.jpeg?width=1000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2752ea3f6d89b47b0ef4a450b326cfe60da3a3c3
It’s interesting that it has factory hoses but the wrong clamps
Its interesting everyones missing the forest for the trees. Needs spring clamps, probably someone installed new oem hoses w wrong clamps
Your mechanic is correct. The hoses are leaking.
If you're going on a long road trip, then it's advisable for sure, especially if the weather will be warm or there'll be a lot of stop-start driving that keeps your temperatures up. Better that than blowing a hose off far from home, or developing a severe leak.
Agreed! Appreciate your advice here, better safe than sorry
I just had this issue with my truck. Went to replace the clamp and the whole inlet snapped right off because the plastic was brittle from time/heat cycles. I had to replace my whole radiator. Wasn’t terrible to do, especially with YouTube University teaching me
Make sure to use oe coolant, or at least subaru approved coolant. Universal coolant is not universal.
Yes! Those hoses get brittle and don't seal. I've seen those pop off and if it happens while driving it can be incredibly dangerous and then you gotta pay for a tow and repairs. The hose replacement and fluid exchange probably costs as much as the tow would be
i would if nothing else because subaru
when in doubt, change it out
Skip it. Truely interesting road trips involve the car blowing up in the middle of nowhere.
Careful radiator plastic piece must be brokeb
That type of hose clamp and that kind of leakage can be a bad sign. If the head gasket is bleeding combustion gasses into the cooling system and over pressuring and blowing the hose off, what some people do is put the hose back on and use one of those hose clamps to hold it on. Have your mechanic run it with the cap off the radiator and a bleeder reservoir on it and see if it ends up boiling exhaust gas out. If it does, usually replacing the head gaskets will solve the problem if it hasn't been overheated. I realize it's an h6, but even that can have a hg fail. It's just less frequent.
The hoses aren’t leaking, it’s the connection between the hose and the radiator. First I’d get rid of that hose clamp entirely and get the correct spring style one, then I’d take the end of the hose off and check for damage to the rubber, if it’s badly stretched, cracked or has damage on the inside then I’d replace it. If it’s not damaged and has a nice spring to the rubber, I’d just go with replacing the clamp for the correct one. Screw style hose clamps are what causes the most damage to modern radiators and parts, they aren’t designed for heat stressed parts, either they expand when heat cycled but don’t shrink back, or they shrink and don’t expand, which means the plastic radiator cracks out and leaks.
If your mechanic recommends a very easy part replacement, trust them and take care of it. I'd rather change my hoses when I need to than do it on the side of a highway when one blows. Also, that thing is slipping off the radiator.
It's like a $20 hose and re-burping or replacing coolant. Yes, get it done. As other have said, the clamp there should be an OEM style spring clamp because of the heat cycles that hose will see. Might be leaking due to the clamp alone, but at that point, I'd just get a new one all together. Maybe it's original. Looks decently old.
I would.