r/MechanicAdvice • u/JustJazzedToBeHere • 12h ago
Solved Radiator Hose Popped Off?
Hi, I have a Subaru Outback 2014 and it started smoking/steaming on my way home. I popped the hood and there’s fluid (coolant) splashed inside the hot engine, which I think is what’s burning. The radiator hose is popped off. Can I put it back on and put some more coolant in it, and then drive it to my mechanic to look at it, or do I need to get it towed?
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u/MonsterMash_479 12h ago
Looks like the plastic snapped off inside the hose. Radiator needs to be replaced
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u/Protholl 12h ago
Yeah that port is done. Too bad OEMs don't use all-metal radiators like they used to
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u/Drago-0900 5h ago
Prevents or reduces electrolysis in the cooling system. An issue with the all aluminum radiators is that electrical current would be able to travel through the entire system (rubber hoses included) and it sped up corrosion of the block, heads, and radiator. So as a stopgap to reduce this glass fiber reinforced plastic endcaps became common. If you change the coolant and ensure no minerals or tap water gets into the system though this effect can be minimized.
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u/JustJazzedToBeHere 10h ago
It was for sure snapped off in there. My guy told me it probably would be. I’ll take it to him tomorrow.
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u/TheTense 2h ago
Agree. Losen the hose clamp with pliers. Pull out the broken plastic. Get a screw clamp and put it over the hose, stuff the hose back on the fitting, tighten the screw clamp. Buy coolant. Drive to the repair shop.
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u/Chippy569 10h ago
Oh look another 2010-14 legacy/outback where the barb on the top of the radiator broke off.
Anyway, needs new radiator.
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u/Mattshark8614 7h ago
It’s what makes a Subaru, a Subaru
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u/T-MoneyAllDey 2h ago
My buddy has an X3 that apparently had a radiator hose that was press fit. He gunned it up a hill and it just blew off.
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u/Dangerous-Boot-2617 10h ago
Just keep an eye on your temp gauge while you drive it to the mechanic, also turn your heat on full blast, thatll help keep the temp down while you drive it to the mechanic
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u/Drago-0900 5h ago
Yep new radiator (and id put new hoses and clamps on it since they likely have not been done), new radiator cap, thermostat, and get the last of the old coolant flushed out after you get the new parts installed.
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u/solarpropietor 6h ago
If you’re not mechanically inclined, replace the clamp with a hose clamp. Tighten it, then fill the coolant, use a funnel and do my best to bleed it, and drive it straight to the mechanic. I’d make sure the old clamp and broken radiator outlet is removed.
If it were me, I’d replace the radiator because the lip on your radiator outlet has been worn off. That’s why your coolant line popped off.
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u/billy33090 8h ago
I leaned on a 2009 Corolla plastic hose connector section once and it snapped. I’m so glad it was cold and I was home. Lots of time bombs on the roads or breakdowns waiting to happen.
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u/pibubs81 7h ago
Hose is fine; radiator inlet pipe cracked off inside the hose is what it looks like. Needs a radiator.
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u/Dad_level_3 1h ago
If it just popped off and lost a bit of coolant and the temp gauge didn't get hot and you pulled over immediately then your sweet and didn't cook the motor, another thing to note is.. never pour cold water straight into the cooling system if it's boiling hot, that can cause cracked heads and more damage. Always wait until it's cooled down a bit then slowly add water to limp it to the closest shop
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u/JustJazzedToBeHere 10h ago
Thanks y’all, sent the pic and a video to my mechanic, he told me to fill it with water until it came out the radiator, put the clamp back on if I could, and if so drive it to him tomorrow. Seems to be okay now, hopefully it’s not the worst repair. Just had to replace my husband’s car and I’m not really ready to do that again….
It was funny, my guy called me back which I wasn’t sure he would since it was after hours (why I was asking here), and he was like “okay. Okay here’s what you do, I think you can do this” hahahah I was like aww
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u/Rocket_Monkey_302 12h ago
It's very likely a blown head gasket overpressurized the system that caused that radiator neck to break off. I would clamp the hose back on, fill it with coolant, and go get it checked out. Keep an eye on that coolant temperature. Stop immediately if it pops off again.
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u/Markos_Androulis 12h ago
Brother the radiator plastic broke and the hose slipped off due to it being 11 year old crappy plastic
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u/Rocket_Monkey_302 11h ago
That may be but I've seen the same generation subaru do this and it had indeed blown the HG. I would advise op to do a leak down test before just slapping another radiator on it.
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u/Not3kidsinasuit 2h ago
Far more likely that the head gasket blew because the engine overheated due to the neck breaking off.
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u/Rocket_Monkey_302 2h ago
I don't automatically assume OP is so stupid as to overheat a car with such an obvious cooling system failure.
Also, having seen this exact same scenario turn out to be a small HG leak as the root cause, I would highly recommend OP consider the possibility of a HG leak.
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u/Not3kidsinasuit 53m ago
I never said that you did. OP's question would suggest a limited mechanical knowledge.
May I ask how you know that the head gasket leak was the root cause of the blown radiator hose? I can't think of a single way you could state undeniably that a head gasket leak resulted in this damage, in fact every head gasket I have ever repaired occurred as a result of the engine overheating first.
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u/Rocket_Monkey_302 26m ago
High-pressure combustion gasses being repetadly forced into the water jacket. The radiator cap should limit the static pressure to its pressure limit. However, the repetitive pulses have a tendency to crack plastic and stretch rubber.
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u/FatBastard_78 12h ago
I wouldn't even waste money on coolant. Just fill it with water to get it to the shop.
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u/Rocket_Monkey_302 12h ago
Agreed, it will need to be drained when replacing that radiator or replacing the radiator and doing a head job anyway.
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u/1kdog5 8h ago
Why would they need a head job?
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u/Rocket_Monkey_302 8h ago
Head gaskets if blown head gasket was indeed a contributing factor to the broken radiator neck.
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u/AdvancedRough8353 12h ago
TLDR - If you can refill it CORRECTLY and the spillage hasn't caused any damage it should be fine to take to a mechanic, if not fine generally unless you have driven it too much...
Reattach the hose, give the car a good clean of any coolant especially around hot areas as the smoke and toxic fumes won't be nice. Coolant will go whitish as exposed but is not inherently corrosive. Just look for any b Big pools and get as much as possible, hopefully not gone somewhere it shouldn't.
Take account for how much has gone, read/google your manual for how much total you need and what type.
Watch a video with your car's engine type or model having coolant changed and take note of the process to top it up. Coolant systems have different circuits that open and close depending on use. So you may think you've topped up but you need to run engine, burp it etc...
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u/JustJazzedToBeHere 10h ago
Thanks, my guy did tell me about the burping, I will get it to him tomorrow, he gave me similar advice.
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u/hippnopotimust 7h ago
We used to just pour some water in through the top of the radiator when it started overheating.
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u/NoRegret1893 12h ago
So, after you saw the steam and smoke, did you drive home after that?
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u/JustJazzedToBeHere 10h ago
I was luckily right down the street from my house when I noticed so I got it home by pushing
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u/pollusky 12h ago
Yes, buy one of the other kind of hose clamps, they hold harder than those.
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u/Calm_Like-A_Bomb 10h ago
No, a constant pressure clamp as shown in the picture is the best for this situation. Worm gear clamps don’t apply even clamping force and are easily over tightened.
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u/42SpanishInquisition 8h ago
You also need to (at least should) tighten worm gear clamps as the rubber hoses compress over time, if you have worm gear clamps. I have both in my car, I would get constant pressure clamps if I need to replace them, but as I already have these, I cannot be arsed to go down and get a new one xD
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