Hi,

Just when I thought I had enough car trouble new ones arise. This one I believe has to do with the overheating incident I had earlier.

Lately I realize that the car leaks coolant when I switch the car off after I first start it for the day. It drips from underneath the radiator, in the middle, but I cant tell from where it is coming. I checked a few accessible hoses and no leak.

If I then drive off and park I have no leaks when I stop. I then head somewhere else and again after parking I check for leaks and NONE?

So I then figured okay, it happens before the car reaches working temp. So I am thinking maybe it leaks when cold but that when it warms up, the possible crack in the radiator seals itself as the metals or whatever expands?

Anyone had a simillar problem? Anyone have any sugestions? Are there tubes conected to the front of the radiator that cant be seen?

Thanks,

Sam

 

I can buy a new radiator just like the oiginal one with the plastic sides for 95 dollars. The question is how difficult would it be to change it? the mechanic wants 85 dollars which I would rather not pay hehehe

I have time but it is getting cold so it will be a pain to work on it i presume.

How long can it take? what is the easiest way to empty the system from coolant?

Thanks,

Sam

 

to replace it, if you have an automatic trans you will need a 1/2 inch line wrench to remove the trans cooler lines from the radiator. to drain it, there is a drain plug at the bottom of 1 of the tanks.
get a new radiator cap to go with the new radiator. it takes about an hour from the time you start to the time you close the hood.
i recommend flushing out the cooling system & replacing the thermostat at the same time too.

 

thanks DENN_SHAH

by the way i need to go under the car right? 1 hour sounds good I was considering 2 if i take my time

Do i need to use gasket sealer on the thermostat gasket? will it leak if i dont?

Thanks,

Sam

 

it depends if you can get to the drain plug & on how the lower hose clamp is put on, if the clamp is turned so you can get to it from the top & you can get to the drain plug, then no, you don't need to get under the car. on draining it, you can put a drain pan under it & just pull the lower hose off & not worry with pulling the drain plug.

yes, i would recommend a little silicone sealer on the T-stat gasket, just enough to cover the surface. it will also make it easier to remove the gasket the next time you change out the T-stat

 

hi,

I was checking again yesterday to make sure it really is the radiator that is at fault but i am still uncertain. it seems as though the coolant starts at the right side of the radiator where the drain plug is located and then makes its way to the middle of the radiator (underneath) to then drip to the ground. So it must either be a crack in the right side of radiator or that the plug itself is leaking.

The reason i think it is more likely the plug is because it leaks nothing once the coolant is warm and has circulated in the system. I presume there is a rubber ring on the drain plug which when cold gets hard and likely to leak but when warm gets soft and seals better?/

Need some one to confirm if that sound right and if they had a simillar problem.

thanks,

Sam

 

Alright, This is what I would do!
I will take the fan out and check the radiator. Its possible that you may be leaking from the draining plugg, cuz the collant flowws down the bottom of the metal that holds the radiator and goes through the first hole on that metal which happens to be in the middle. Now if we do have a radiator leak than i would advise to change it. It takes no longer than 30mins. to change a radiator. Its simple, take all the hoses out, tranny cooling lines etc. and put a new radiator in. Simple as that, now if you wanna flush your system buy the kit simple directions, you will need two galons of pure antifreeze and you are ready to rock and roll?

 

xlwhellraiser,

thanks for the info. I will be receiving the new radiator tomorrow and i will do the swap I have looked closer at the current radiator and it seems that it is leaking were the plastic side attaches to the metal....

Thanks

Sam

 

Where are you located? If you're in a warmer climate, you may be able to get away with a more water-oriented mixture, like a 70/30 mixture.

 

stekman,

Im located in the north west.... Idaho. It gets to about 25 F, dont believe it gets any colder I think.

Anyway I am waiting for the UPS delivery now

By the way i found something stange and dont know if it is suppose to be that way. On the big rubber tube that is conected at the bottom of the radiator there seems to be something solid in it? is it not suppose to be holo? I am clueless.

it is about 6 inch long in the tube. I am guessing it is too slow down coolant circulation?

Sam

 

Probably a metal spring inside to help the lower hose hold it's shape if anything.

 

Sam,

My camaro just developed the same problem as yours. Leaks coolant when cold under the radiator in the middle and on the drivers side. All my hoses and the plug are not leaking.

Whats weird is that I just replaced my radiator back in February and it hasn't leaked till now in Nov. I wonder if there should be some kind of recall on these plastic/aluminum radiators.

Looks like I will be changing mine out again. It only took about 1 hour last time.

Good luck.

 

I bought a mine from radiator.com and i have a 1 year waranty...

I put it in today, was easy apart from getting the transmission tubes on. In the end after stuggleing for a while i put them in place.

Im sure you can get something back if you still have the original receipt.

Sam