Miata Coolant Hoses? (All of them...)

I"ve decided to change all of the coolant hoses on my 96 Miata the next time I change the anti freeze. There's a bunch of them.

I know that it's a PITA to change the heater core hoses. Are there any special challenges to changing any of the others?

I just did this and it is really easy.

Yep - they're just heater hoses.

A little smear of anti-freeze helps a new, dry hose slid onto the barb. And reuse the spring clamps. Worm screw hose clamps exert less clamping pressure over time as the hose deforms under them - spring clamps clamp forever. Do the heater hoses when you're doing the T-belt / intake / header deal and all that stuff is out of the way.

There was one bizarre little hose I didn't even realize was there until it burst at the track. I still don't know what' it's for. On my '94 it ran from the back of the block (where I could barely fit my hand) around the side under the intake manifold.

That one was a major pain to change.

on the heater hoses, slit them lengthwise to get them off. those heater hose things are very fragile.

I ordered up new hose clamps also. So easy to install with those things.

Get a wire brush to clean up the hose attachment metal areas.

Agreed, cut the heater hoses off.

The mystery hose on Salanis' car goes to the oil cooler - or, as I think it really functions, the cold oil warmer. There's another hose that runs from there to the thermostat housing. It's only on the 1.8s. Pull the intake manifold brace off and it's easier to reach.

There's a rubber cap (or two) blocking off unused coolant fittings on the 1.6. I want to say there's one on the block under the intake manifold and another on the back of the intake, but I forget exactly.

Keith wrote: Agreed, cut the heater hoses off. The mystery hose on Salanis' car goes to the oil cooler - or, as I think it really functions, the cold oil warmer. There's another hose that runs from there to the thermostat housing. It's only on the 1.8s. Pull the intake manifold brace off and it's easier to reach.

There are 3 hoses in that run. One from the head to the puck, one from the puck to the throttle body, and a third from the TB to the thermo housing. Yup - do em all.

I ordered them all from Mazdaspeed last year but never got around to doing the job. There seemed to be an awful lot of them. I didn't see any point to just doing the easy ones and then have one of the others ruin a track day.

Slice the old ones with a razor blade and remove. To install, lubricate the new ones with a water soluable lubricant, such as found in the adult aisle of your local drugstore.

You get to explain to your wife why you are headed out to the shop with a tub of KY in hand...