How to Replace F150 Heater Hoses
by Allen Moore
Heater hoses on the Ford F150 carry engine coolant to and from the heater core for use in providing heat to the passenger cabin. Over time these hoses weaken from the inside due to the constant temperature changes and mildly corrosive nature of most engine coolants. If your hoses feel squishy when you squeeze them, it may be time to consider replacing them. If you have basic auto-repair experience, you can replace the heater hoses on your F150 in about an hour.
Step 1
Open the hood and slide the catch pan under the heater hoses, which run along the passenger side of the engine, back towards the firewall.
Step 2
Loosen the hose clamps on both heater hoses where they connect to the heater core inlet and outlet at the firewall using the screwdriver. Slide the clamps away from the hose ends.
Step 3
Follow the hoses to the heater control valve and intake and loosen the hose clamps at those ends as well with the screwdriver. Slide those clamps away from the hose ends.
Step 4
Pull the hose ends off the heater core inlet and outlet by hand. If the hoses do not slide free easily, insert the tip of the mechanic's pick between the hose end and the heater core inlet and/or outlet and slide the tip all the way around the hose end to free them from the heater core.
Step 5
Pull the hoses off the heater control valve and intake manifold couplings in the same manner you employed to remove the other ends. Compare the old hoses to the new hoses to ensure they are physically identical.
Step 6
Slide two hose clamps onto each new hose. Slide the hose ends over the heater core inlet and outlet and then move the hose clamps into position and tighten them with the screwdriver.
Step 7
Slide the other hose ends over the heater control valve and intake manifold couplings and then move the other two hose clamps into position and tighten them with the screwdriver.
Step 8
Top the engine coolant with a 50/50 mixture of coolant and distilled water. Run the F150’s engine until it reaches operating temperature and top the coolant once more with the 50/50 mixture.
References
- "Ford F100 - F350 1980 Thru 1996: Haynes Manual"; Ken Freund; 1996
- "Ford F150 1997 Thru 2003: Haynes Manual"; Ken Freund; 2003
- "Ford F150 2004 Thru 2006: Haynes Manual"; Ken Freund; 2006
Things You'll Need
- Catch pan
- Screwdriver
- Mechanic's pick (optional)
- Replacement heater hoses
- 4 new hose clamps
- 1 gallon coolant
- 1 gallon distilled water
Writer Bio
Allen Moore's career includes awards in poetry and creative fiction, published lyrics, fiction books and nonfiction articles as well as a master certification in automotive service from the Ford Motor Company. Moore is a contributing writer for RF365.com and various other websites, a ghostwriter for Rainbow Writing and has over a dozen works of fiction currently in print.
