Come this Spring Im planning on updating the cooling system. Starting with the hoses, clamps and the 180 thermostat. Plan on replacing the radiator as well but wont be able to do everything at once. Question is would it be alright to start with just replacing the hoses and therm along with a coolant flush? Or should I wait longer until I have enough $$$ for the new rad? I just thought that perhaps by not changing the rad along with the hoses at the same time could cause contaminates to get into the system, and eventually back into the new rad once its fitted later on.

Bio: 136k and counting. No overheating while Ive owned the truck. No known coolant leaks. I just want to bring the engine temps down and get the cooling system updated before they do fail. Also trying to preserve the stock head gaskets for as long as possible.

 

How long until you plan to do the radiator?

If we are talking about a few months, and if your system is working correctly, just wait and do it all at the same time. You save time on labor and don't waste coolant.

Contamination of the new radiator is not an issue. So if it's going to be several months, you can do the hoses and a flush and it won't hurt anything down the road.

 

I have no idea when Ill be able to get the radiator. Im in the process of moving to new town at the moment. Still have to replace front bumper, buy new General Grabber tires, get wheels re-balanced and a ton of other unrelated things coming up. Ill be switching jobs real soon to as well so I have no idea what my income will be looking like so I dare not make to many projections. Just figured Id better put some money aside real soon to get the hoses and thermostat done before the weather warms up. I imagine it will be at least a couple months if not more before I can get the radiator though and I would be doing all the labor myself. I just do not want to **** up anything and defeat the purpose of updating everything and flushing the fluid is all.

Thanks.

 

If it was my truck I would either leave it alone since you have no problems or just change out the thermostat. A bad thermostat can leave you stranded and they are fairly cheap. Just make sure you raise the reservoir and bleed the cooling system after doing any work.

I would also switch to worm gear clamps if you take anything apart. They hold a lot better than the factory ones. The hoses should be okay if they aren't dry rotted or cracked. If they are you should replace all of them soon.

 

I would go ahead and re-do the thermostat. and then wait on everything else until you get the radiator.Once you get all the other parts you can simply wash out the new thermostat. This way you at the very least have the better thermo working for you and it will only take you about 20 minutes. I did the same thing about 1-1/2 years ago. Especially i you currently have no there heating/cooling issues.

 

as long as nothing is leaking I do the 10-YEAR OLD t-stat and hoses, the radiator can wait