1 800-RADIATOR (www.Radiator.com) announced today its best sales week ever, with over $5 million in auto radiator and air conditioning parts sales. That’s quite a bit for maintenance item alone, but like always, new cars from several years ago eventually become used cars, and they need the maintenance to stay on the road. I was incidentally a part of this mid-summer purchasing group for my personal Honda commuter, and I feel compelled to write about and promote the preventive auto maintenance/repair measures that they mention in their press release. Why? Because as luck would have it, the weekend after I replaced the radiator and all hoses on my Honda Accord in the beginning of June this year, my friend blew a radiator hose in the 105 Fahrenheit California desert heat and ruined his entire weekend vacation plans. He was driving a Honda Civic with 120k on the odometer, and the old brittle radiator hoses just couldn’t deal with the heat and pressure that gets generated in hot climates and driving conditions.
If your car has over 100,000 miles, we’d recommend you change all radiator hoses at the least, and possibly even your radiator. Most dealer maintenance programs or independent mechanics will suggest this to you, and you shouldn’t shun their advice—they’re not saying it to rip you off, they just want to save you a big headache and a potential engine replacement if you end up overheating due to a loss of coolant. If you drive in a hot climate (think 110+ degree summer highs), we’d recommend you replace all radiator hoses every 60,000 miles actually. It’s cheap insurance against a blown engine, especially if your car is a rather expensive model like my Honda Accord. We’d also recommend you to avoid idling for extended periods of time with your engine running and the air conditioning on. In hot temperatures, if your vehicle is not moving your air conditioner condenser will no longer be able to adequately perform its cooling function and pressure will build up inside the system. This applies to all new cars as well. After prolonged exposure, this pressure will damage you’re A/C compressor and will lead to its premature failure. Replacement and repair costs for this can range from $200-1,000.
We’ve heard very good things about 1-800 Radiator, but like any auto parts supplier, it’s best to visit them regularly and order all parts as maintenance items for your car, rather than wait until they break and have to buy everything from them in a rush trying to get back on the road.
Remember to have a fun summer, and remember to give your car some R&R and TLC too if it needs it.
I had the ac compression seize up on my 2003 Chevy Suburban last year, like you said probably from too much idling with the AC on when I go to the desert for boating. I had to drive all the way home in 120 degree heat, no joke, with the windows down. A wet towel around your head/neck and body does wonders tho…