Serpentine Belts and Hoses
I still have the original belt and hoses on my 2004 truck with 120000 miles. Would you change them or say if it ain't broke don't fix it?
Forum Discussion
The last thing I want is to be traveling out of town and have a hose burst or a belt break and have to be towed to a garage, stay at a local motel for a night or two while the vehicle is repaired.
Water hoses as they age can collapse on the intake side of the radiator and reduce coolant flow and make the engine run hotter. Belts can slip and reduce the effectiveness of the AC or the alternator.
I replace the hoses (radiator and heater) along with the coolant every 5 years, and the belt as recommended by the manufacturer. That way I never have an unplanned repair required while I am out traveling. Even worse with a trailer in tow.
I have put more than a million miles on my tow vehicles over the past 30 years and never lost a day with an unscheduled repair. Cheaper to do it before it has to be done and avoid the tow charges, the motel and restaurant costs, and the lost time. The risk to the trailer is another aspect as well as finding someone to tow the truck and the trailer.
Water hoses as they age can collapse on the intake side of the radiator and reduce coolant flow and make the engine run hotter. Belts can slip and reduce the effectiveness of the AC or the alternator.
I replace the hoses (radiator and heater) along with the coolant every 5 years, and the belt as recommended by the manufacturer. That way I never have an unplanned repair required while I am out traveling. Even worse with a trailer in tow.
I have put more than a million miles on my tow vehicles over the past 30 years and never lost a day with an unscheduled repair. Cheaper to do it before it has to be done and avoid the tow charges, the motel and restaurant costs, and the lost time. The risk to the trailer is another aspect as well as finding someone to tow the truck and the trailer.
