Radiator has leak, help me fix it!!

[Keego]

So a seam in my radiator for my '76 Chevy 4x4 is leaking and I need to fix it. It's a metal radiator, and the seam must have just loosened after all the years of usage but it's enough to lower the water to that level if it gets going (good thing it's near the top!)

Anyways, how can I fix the seam, will caulking or something work? I heard that pepper can help stop the leak, how about that?

I dont want to pay for a new radiator

 

[Antisocial Virge]

Solder. pinch that tube off or try some of that leak stop stuff but beware that crap can plug up stuff like a heater core for instance.

 

[Rastus]

Take it to a radiator shop and get it repaired. While youre at it, have them rod it.

 

[2ndhandnews]

best way is to remove the radiator, flush it, clean it thoroughly, and then solder a patch over the leak.

some ppl use pepper but that's for a strictly pinhole leak and I wouldn't do that in one of my vehicles anyway.

There is a product you can buy in a little can, it's a sort of radiator sealer that you can buy from an auto parts store...I wouldn't trust it.

Also you are going to be patching all the seams eventually if it's a seam that's worked loose. You're better off buying a new radiator, or a refurbished one. They aren't that much and it'll save you a hell of a lot of headache in the end.

 

[Keego]

Solder sounds promising, but I dunno how far the seam goes down leaking (it's on the back on the side where two pieces are stuck together)

I need a digicam

 

[Keego]

heh I wonder if I can get a refurb one at newegg

 

[purplehayes]

Pull your radiator and solder the leak. Be sure to use an acid core solder and flux. Radiator repairs are easy and it would probably be cheaper to buy a new/refurb one and install it yourself than to have a shop fix it for you.

PH

 

[wnied]

My old pickup trucks radiator sprung a leak awhile back and I referred to my fathers old quick fix that worked. Use an egg white. Drop it into a cooled radiator and start up the engine, as the radiator heats the coolant inside the egg white will find its way to the leak and plug it TEMPORARILY. Then take it to a shop to be repaired or buy a new one.

wnied

 

[Mday]

i would have it professionally repaired if you are completely incompetent.

of course a friend will do =P

 

[HEMIFREAK]

try the dutch boy method...plug the hole with your finger

 

[The Stigenator]

why not get that raditor leak stuff.. you add it in drive around and it clogs the place where it meets air.

but best is get a new radiator. its pretty cheap.

 

[Eli]

I would highly recomend staying away from Stop-Leak like the plague. It can cause a lot of coolant system problems.

Have it soldered up, or do it yourself.

 

[Squisher]

The silver-dust-like-stuff(technical name) works pretty good. Don't use BarrsLeak. Let me tell you radiator shops are at the top of my list as the people most likely to sell you the repair that they want to. They will pressurize that radiator with both water(doesn't compress very well) and air and blow more holes in that core then you thought possible. Then guess what? You'll have to pay them to recore it. Just like they told you when you walked in there.

 

[Pikachu]

By the looks of the money that you've socked into that rig (except for the monitor), I'd say $125.00 for a new radiator isn't a bad idea. By the time you go through the trouble to R&R that radiator, you might as well throw in a new one. Go ahead an pour some "Stop Leak" or something to hold you over, but figure on buying a new one soon.