Oftentimes, you can see the hose cover has damages, or there are rubbing marks on the cover. Cause #6 Engine AbrasionsĪbrasions commonly occur when a car’s engine components rub against one another. Often, the cracks look like small, parallel cracks in the cover, especially at the hose bends.Ĭhoose high-quality hoses that are ozone-resistant. When this happens, the rubber compounds are affected, and small cracks provide enough opening for particles to come in and damage the hose. Ozone concentrations actually increase as pollution rises. Heat can cause a slight swelling in the hose, hardening it and causing cracks to appear on the surface.Ĭhoose better quality hoses that can withstand deterioration due to heat Cause #5 Ozone Problems One of the main reasons why this happens can be due to insufficient coolant levels. Cause #4 Engine heat / Insufficient coolant levelsĮngine heat is a common problem of most drivers. If there are already small cracks, you can use sealants that come in viscous gels to plug in those cracks. Cast iron and brass fittings actually meld well with rubber compounds after some time, which lessens the likelihood of hose leaks. You can also try using beaded connectors to enhance sealing. This is the best way to prevent the problem from happening. However, the best thing you can do is to buy hoses that are ECD-resistant. Another indication might be softer ends on the hose compared to the middle part.

Just squeeze the ends of the hose, and check if there are some spaces inside. The coolant transfers this charge to different areas, creating electric charges that cause cracks to form inside the hose.ĮCD often starts within two inches of the hose’s end-near the connectors. Cause #3 Electrochemical Degredation (ECD)Įlectrochemical degradation (ECD) occurs when different kinds of metals in the cooling system create an electric charge. Similarly, you can also opt for constant-tension clamps that automatically tightens (or loosens) depending on how hot or cold the system is. Also look for moisture and drips around the hose itself. Often, the number one indicator would be coolant bleed marks and drips found around the hose clamps and connectors. A hose or connector that’s damaged can be seen by the naked eye, and so is a loose clamp torque. Cause #2 Not enough clamp torque / Damaged hose or connectors The best thing to do is to invest on the better ones on the market. Oftentimes, kinks occur due to poor quality hoses.

Engine coolant hose