🔧 Murano - Upper Radiator Hose Replacement

The upper radiator hose carries hot coolant from the engine to the radiator. Replacing it is mostly about working safely around coolant, removing the clamps, swapping the hose, then refilling and bleeding air so your Murano doesn’t overheat.

Difficulty Level: Beginner | Estimated Time: 1.0-2.0 hours

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Never open the radiator cap hot; coolant can spray and burn you.
• Wear gloves and safety glasses; coolant is toxic and slippery.
• Keep coolant away from kids/pets; clean spills immediately.
• If you raise the vehicle for access, support it with jack stands on solid ground.
• Battery disconnect is not required for this job.

---

🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves
• Drain pan (at least 2-gallon)
• Hose clamp pliers (specialty)
• Pick tool (90°)
• Slip-joint pliers
• Razor blade or hose cutter
• Funnel
• Spill-free coolant funnel kit (specialty)
• Shop towels
• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• Flashlight

---

🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Upper radiator hose - Qty: 1
• Radiator hose clamps - Qty: 2 (recommended if clamps are rusty/weak)
• Engine coolant (Nissan Blue Long Life, premix) - Qty: 1-2 gallons

---

📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, set the parking brake, and let the engine cool fully (best: overnight).
• Set wheel chocks behind the rear tires.
• Have a drain pan ready and plan where you’ll pour used coolant for proper disposal.
• Hose clamp pliers = pliers made to squeeze spring-style clamps safely.

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Relieve cooling system pressure (cold engine only)

• Use nitrile gloves and safety glasses.
• Place a shop towel over the radiator cap, then slowly loosen it to the first stop to confirm there’s no pressure.
• Once safe, remove the cap completely.

Step 2: Drain enough coolant to get the level below the upper hose

• Position the drain pan under the radiator area.
• If you need a little more room, raise the front with a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) and support it with jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Open the radiator drain (petcock) carefully (use slip-joint pliers only if needed) and drain until coolant flow slows.
• Close the drain snugly by hand when done. Torque to: hand-snug only (plastic drain)

Step 3: Remove the old upper hose clamps

• Locate the upper hose (it runs from the top of the radiator to the engine).
• Use hose clamp pliers (specialty) to compress the spring clamp and slide it back a few inches on the hose.
• Repeat for the clamp at the other end.

Step 4: Break the hose loose and remove it

• Twist the hose by hand to break the seal. If it’s stuck, carefully work a pick tool (90°) between the hose and the fitting to let air in.
• Pull the hose off each end and keep the open ends pointed upward to reduce spills.
• If the hose is bonded and won’t come off, carefully slice it lengthwise with a razor blade or hose cutter and peel it off. Cut the hose, not the plastic neck.

Step 5: Install the new upper radiator hose

• Compare the new hose to the old one (same shape/length).
• Slide the clamps onto the new hose before installing it.
• Push the hose fully onto the radiator neck and the engine neck until it bottoms out.
• Use hose clamp pliers (specialty) to position each clamp behind the raised “bead” on the fitting (this bead helps prevent leaks/blow-off).

Step 6: Refill coolant and bleed air

• Install the spill-free coolant funnel kit (specialty) at the radiator filler neck.
• Pour Nissan Blue coolant using the funnel until the level stays steady.
• Start the engine and set the heater to full HOT (this helps move coolant through the heater core).
• Let it idle and watch the funnel level. Add coolant as air burps out.
• Use gloved hands to gently squeeze the upper hose a few times to help purge trapped air.
• When the radiator fans cycle and the heater blows hot, shut the engine off and let it cool.
• Top off again if the level drops, then remove the funnel and reinstall the radiator cap. Torque to: fully seated by hand
• Fill the overflow reservoir to the “MAX” line (use flashlight to see the level).

---

✅ After Repair

• Start your Murano and check both hose ends for seepage while it warms up.
• Verify the heater blows hot and the temperature gauge stays normal.
• After the first drive and full cool-down, recheck the overflow reservoir and top off to “MAX” if needed.
• Inspect for dried coolant residue around the clamps over the next couple days.

---

💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $250-$450 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $40-$120 (parts only)

You Save: $210-$330 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.0-1.5 hours.

---

🎯 Ready to get started?

HowToo makes it easy: same-day/2-day shipping on every part, plus all the tools and specialty tools you need! Check out the parts and tools sections below to add everything to your cart.

---

Quick check: Did you mean the upper radiator hose (top of radiator) or the lower radiator hose (bottom of radiator)? If you tell me which one, I’ll tailor the access steps for that exact hose.