My 2003 Ranger (3.0) has the heated PCV valve, with the coolant hoses branching off from the upper heater hoses to loop around the PCV. One of these hoses has developed a leak. The leak is at the clamps to the PCV heater elbow, so am thinking that heat shrink tubing will not be able to save me this time. Only thing I've been able to find is an entire heater hose assembly (Motorcraft KH-181) as opposed to just the hose with the leak. Is there a different replacement hose I could use instead of the entire assembly?

Thanks in advance!

 

Can you just cut the hose end back and re-clamp it

It is just a regular but smaller diameter heater hose so auto parts stores should sell it by the foot, as well as the correct size couplers/splices to join the hoses together

And if you don't live in a colder area, i.e. temps are below 32degF for several weeks at a time, then you really don't need the heated PCV Valve
People often replace the main heater hoses with regular hose so no more plastic "T's" which are the more common leak point
So eliminate the smaller hoses altogether

 

Believe those PCV Coolant Loop hoses are 5/16"ID,
but yep, unless you live in Wyoming\Montana\Minnesnowta\Alaska\Canada\...
best thing to do is delete the "Oxbow" fitting from around the PCVValve & the related 5/16"Hoses+Tees.
Just an unnecessary source of potential leaks.