How to Replace Upper Radiator Hose 98-12 Ford Ranger 4.0L V6

Difficulty: Intermediate · About 60 min · Ford Ranger

Replace the upper radiator hose and bleed the cooling system on a 1998-2012 Ford Ranger with the 4.0L V6 engine.

Steps

1. Drain the coolant

   Remove the radiator cap, remove the four 10mm bolts holding the under-radiator cover and pull it down, have a drain pan ready, open the drain plug with a 19mm wrench, let the radiator drain, then hand-tighten the plug.

2. Remove the intake tube

   Remove the throttle body cover's Phillips screws and 7mm bolt, loosen the two intake hose clamps and the air box clasps, then remove the intake tube and box.

3. Remove the old upper hose

   With a drain pan ready, compress and slide back the hose clamp nearest the radiator and twist the hose off, let it drain, then compress and slide back the second clamp to free the hose from the water pump.

4. Install the new upper hose

   Connect it to the water pump and tighten its clamp, then connect it to the radiator and tighten that clamp too.

5. Reinstall the intake tube

   Insert the tube and air box cover, tighten the hose clamps with a flat blade screwdriver, reconnect the breather hose and MAF sensor, refit the throttle body cover and its Phillips screw and 7mm bolt, then refit the lower cover and its 10mm bolts.

6. Bleed the system

   Fill the radiator with the correct coolant mixture, leave the cap off with a funnel in place and a drain pan below, run the engine with the fan on low and heat on high, watch for air bubbles and top off coolant as it drops, wait for it to reach operating temperature and stop dropping, confirm heat from the vents, then shut it off, refit the cap, top off the overflow bottle, and monitor coolant levels on a test drive.

Check your vehicle’s repair manual for exact specifications and fit.