windlover

Apologies if this has been beat to death, I did several searches and didn't find what I am looking for.

I am about to go through my cooling system. I know that my thermostat is shot and while I am at it (deadly phrase) I want to replace all of my hoses and flush the cooling system.

Are there hose brands to avoid, brands that are better that others.

My hoses are 20 years old and show no symptoms but considering where I go with this Jeep, I don't want any failures.

PatHenry

I think pretty much any retail hose is going to be of decent quality. You can't really go wrong with Gates brand or if you can find Mopar ones.

downs

Gates makes a lot of NAPA stuff. I ordered a whole set of cooling system hoses all Gates brand (one with a Napa tag on it) from Rock Auto for about 40 dollars less than I could get them all locally even with Rock Auto Shipping. IMO at that age they're worth every penny spent to replace them. There's a lot that happens to a hose with age that you can't see.

robertj

I used Gates. Been running them for a few years with no issues. I'd suggest a Mopar OEM thermostat:

DFlintstone

Agreed on the T-stat. IIRC the real deal has three struts, and a cheapo I tried had only two which didn't hold the shaft straight so the disk didn't seal. (could see a crescent of light through it)

fb97xj1

Pretty much every aftermarket radiator hose ive used was Gates. Never had an issue. Clean the thermostat housing and water pump surfaces of any dirt, etc. for a good seal. And dont overtighten the clamps. Mopar thermostats are always recommended. The jiggle valve should in at the 12 o'clock position once installed. Make sure it stays seated when putting the thermostat housing back on or you will crack the housing.

DFlintstone

If there is a "weep hole" in the T-stat, it goes up at 12:00. Then when mounting the housing be sure to let the T-stat in there slip down, so the ear of the housing breaks off when you tighten the bolts. That's how I do it anyway. I almost forgot. The make it extra uber interesting, drop a washer down in the serpentine belt cover. Don't worry, you can never see or find it again, and the thrill you get watching your belt go "ka -bluey" then the artistic ways the remnants wind up on the fan and pulleys is well worth the cost of one little washer. (which was caught between the belt and pulley it seems) O heck, let's add. With any luck the longer bolt through the T-stat housing will have gotten so corroded it may as well be welded to the housing. That way you can indeed back the bolt out, but only until the housing hits something. I forget how I got out of that one but I did, wasn't easy but I needed to to proceed to the above "procedures. Last tip, do this in the stix 1/2 hour away from the nearest town without a backup vehicle. That way you can see who your friends are, needing someone to go to the store and buy/bring you a belt. The above can be accomplished in only two days, but planning on it being a 10 minute job does add that little something.