brider

I desperately want to flush my OWN cooling system, but those damn radiator hose connections have me baffled, and I don't trust my local repair shop to know any better, so I don't want THEM to break anything...

I see the wire clip on both the upper and lower hoses, and from the Bentley manual I see an o-ring seal on each one.

I pulled the wire clip on the upper hose, and attempted to pull it off; twisted, pried gently on the edges, wouldn't budge.

What I need to know is WHAT kind of connection it is; is it a butt-joint that smashes the o-ring to seal, is it a lap joint that compresses the o-ring in a ring groove, etc, so I know how to pry the hose off without destroying it.

Prospeeder

Dont twist. I usually gntly wiggle and use a prybar to get it off. Radiators pretty stout acually. I do them constantly at work, havent broken one yet

MDJ

You can do it! You have to pull HARD and pull the bottom hose off to drain the radiator. The top hose is a bit of a pain without the car in service position.

It is a compression seal w/ o-ring. Sort of resembles a flared copper fitting when you look at it close. Don't pry at it. All I did was give the hose a little movement back and forth from the top and then get underneath the car, brace my foot on the rad support and go for it.