1997 5.7 Mercruiser - How Often Should I Replace Rubber Hoses?

[Dangit]

Fresh water use. How often should I replace the rubber hoses on this engine, are some of the hoses more likely to fail than others?

What is the shelf life of "new" inventory hoses?

Thank you.

 

[Raystownboater]

Re: 1997 5.7 Mercruiser - How Often Should I Replace Rubber Hoses?

I'm sure if you download the service manual for your engine, you will find a Maintenance Schedule that outlines when certain things need replaced. However, your best bet is to check your rubber hoses each spring for cracks, bulges, soft spots or any other type of failure. Replace them at the first signs of wear and you'll have nothing to worry about.

 

[greg82255]

Re: 1997 5.7 Mercruiser - How Often Should I Replace Rubber Hoses?

Not sure of the recommended shelf life, My 1986 merc 5.7 has 800 hours and the original hoses - no problems. I also just sold a 1982 merc 5.0 that had original hoses with no problems.

 

[Lou C]

Re: 1997 5.7 Mercruiser - How Often Should I Replace Rubber Hoses?

I just replaced the 23 year old ones on my 88 OMC and they were still fine, these open cooling systems do not work at high pressure like a closed pressurized system so the hoses last a long time. You can check em or buy spares if the OE ones are getting hard to find. I kept the old ones as spares....

 

[Icyharp]

Re: 1997 5.7 Mercruiser - How Often Should I Replace Rubber Hoses?

My '87 still has all the original hoses as well, I do check them every season.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: 1997 5.7 Mercruiser - How Often Should I Replace Rubber Hoses?

yep dangit,t hey will last a LONG time. My 1997 Mercruiser 5.7LX EFI Gen+ Bravo 3 still had allt he original hoses on it, when I sold it at the end of summer 2008 with 800+ hours. The only water hose I ever worried about was the one on the front of the engine as it laid against a braket for the tensioner pulley. That hose had a "gouge" in it from the bracket, but it never leaked, even 3 years after I found it.

The ONLY hose I ever replaced was the power steering return hose, because the steering "rack" would touch it when you turned the wheel all the way to the right, and it wore a hole in it. That was when the boat was 9 years old, with 700 hours on it!

 

[Fishermark]

Re: 1997 5.7 Mercruiser - How Often Should I Replace Rubber Hoses?

The more important rubber "hose" to replace is the driveshaft bellows. That is a maintenance item requiring periodic replacement. I believe every five years(?)

 

[partskenn]

Re: 1997 5.7 Mercruiser - How Often Should I Replace Rubber Hoses?

Not sure of the recommended shelf life, My 1986 merc 5.7 has 800 hours and the original hoses - no problems. I also just sold a 1982 merc 5.0 that had original hoses with no problems.

Likewise. My 1986 Mercruiser 260 has all original hoses and belts. I check them every spring (and occasionally thru the summer), and they continue to look and feel fine.

 

[Volphin]

Re: 1997 5.7 Mercruiser - How Often Should I Replace Rubber Hoses?

Still have the originals on all my boats.

V