Coolant hoses and belts

Sounds like your overdue.

 

The leaks from hoses are called cold water leaks, tighten up clamps on hoses that are dripping and look for cracking on ends of hoses that drip and replace hoses that are cracked?

 

Be careful not to tighten your clamps to tight, not all clamps are made alike- many people actually damage silicone hose buy tightening to much, especially with the clamps that are not completely smooth on the inside. Even mechanics are known to do this

If you decide to replace the hose, try the style of clamp that is completely smooth inside- it's more pricey but easier on the silicone hose and holds good

 

Looks for cracks on your belts also.
They will appear on the inside of the belt, use a good lite.
Reach in the same way you do when your checking the tension and instead of pushing to check tension reach to the opposite side of the belt and pull.
If there are cracks you'll see'em.
I hope the explanation of how to do it makes sense?

 

Yep some clamps will just cut right in.

 

Noise from belt could be the belt tensioner. I go through one every 1 - 1.5 yr.

I replace both belts every spring. I do a coolant flush in the fall. And any hoses that have any kind of leak or show any kind of aging,.. I immediately replace the hose and clamp too if I have any doubt.

My first 3 months were plagued with hoses and leaks. I learned real quick to start carrying an assortment of hoses and clamps after paying $300 to a roadside mechanic for a $10 hose. No I dont hesitate. Just replace it and be done with it. Staying on top of maintenance things and doing preventative maintenance is cheap insurance in my opinion.

Hurst

 

Duck tape

 

I only pay my mechanic to do things that I cant or dont really want to do. The rest I try to do as much myself as I can.

Why pay a mech $90 - $110hr plus parts to do what you can do yourself? The more you can do youre self the more money that stays in your pocket.

The more time you spend under and around your truck the more you become familiar with your truck. Looking and search for things that need attention. I typically will spend at least one day going over my truck soon as I get home. I look for things tht could cause me problems while out on the road. Air leaks,.. easy fix. cut line,.. add line or just a compression coupling,.. done. Fittings leaking,.. replace,.. done. Shocks, lights, hoses, boost couplings, all easy things any novice should be able to do.

Winter time I'm always dealing with at least one broken service air line the trailer. Either have a replacement,.. or be able to cut and put in a coupling. Else you could be sitting somewhere waiting (Time = money) paying good hard earned money to someone else.

I'm not in business to give my money away. The more I can keep in my pocket the better. Small little nickel and dime things can add up over the course of a year if your constantly paying a mechanic to do those things. Learn to do as much as you can yourself.

Develop a list of quick things that you can fix yourself and bring those things with you in case you need them. Glad hands, hoses, air lines, couplings, clamps, boost clamps, boost couplings, spare belts, coolant, tire plug kit, spare fuses, bulbs etc.

Hurst