Duct Tape & Hoses

I took my car in yesterday to have an oil change and the mechanic said that I had coolant leaking and that my air filter housing hose (whatever that is) was cracked and that duct tape was coming off. Today, I am taking my car in to have the radiator replaced (my regular mechanic said that there was a crack in the radiator) but I was wondering if this air filter hose can be replaced later if I re-wrap it with duct tape? I don't have a lot of money as the replacement of the radiator is costing enough. My mechanic did see the duct tape that was coming off but did not say a word so this hose issue must not be that serious. I hope that duct tape will fix the problem.

it should be fine if its just the air intake. Tape it back up, if you replace the hose later, the it wont mater if its taped up right now.

Thanks for responding. What is the air filter housing hose? I still have no idea what it is for?

it connects the box with the air filter in it, to the throttle body of your car's engine

there's a black box somewhere in the front of your engine bay with a filter inside of it (to keep the air that your engine uses clean of any debris that would harm its internal parts) - thats the 'air filter housing'.

the air filter hose is the black hose that connects that box, to your engine. 'air filter housing hose' is kind of a lengthy term for something so simple, which is probably why you're confused. I could be wrong, and it could be some other hose that has to do with that 'air filter housing', but either way, its just the car's air intake; the chance that duct taping it back up is going to any damage is slim.

...anyone with an engine-bay picture want to help me explain?

The air filter hose he is referring to could also most likely be the part of the PCV system. If its a hose about 3 inches in diameter its intake routing, if its a smaller hose that goes to somewhere around a valve cover then its PCV. They're both just vacuum hoses. Yes you can fix them with tape but its very inexpensive to bring it into a parts store and ask for a replacement.

Are you saying this is nothing major then and that duct taping it would be better and cheaper? The hose is short in length.

I did not mean in length, I said small in diameter. But yes, they're just vacuum hoses and taping it would keep it air tight. Tape doesn't last forever though and it won't do much good if the hose is completely drying out.

My mechanic said everything else was looking ok except for the radiator. I was able to put duct tape around the hose so it should be ok.

not sure where u gonna tape it...but 99% of the time, the duct tape will melt if in contact with coolant

We aren't talking about duct taping the radiator.

you know what they say...
if you can't duct it...