Small radiator leak

[Jimma]

My truck had its radiator replaced in the past by the military. I went out tonight and after running it heard a small hissing noise. I found a tiny leak near the top front of the radiator. From the amount that is coming out it must be only a pin hole or defect in a weld. Its not in the coil or fins area but like where the vertical part of the radiator meets meets the top. I cannot see the leak its under a lip or flange but I can see a small drip and when I run my fingers over the area the sound changes. Granted its a small leak but what might someone suggest as a simple remedy to try??????

 

[RAYZER]

a radiator shop could re solder it but thats not realy a simple fix because it would have to come out.

 

[Heavysteven]

Simple would be some radiator stop leak.

The perminate fix would be to pull it out and take to a radiator shop. They could flush and fix.Jcknife has a great thread "while the radiator is out"

 

[bratpackdad]

JB Weld at Napa

 

[Bill W]

The flange that your talking about is a seam that connects the top of the rad to the core half.
If you have any solder experience than drain down the tank , smear some solder flux around the pin hole then heat it up with a propane torch until the exsisting solder remelts/forms over the pinhole ( being careful not to open the entire seam ). I had to pull my rad as the entire top seam on the back side of my tank had came apart and I found the the leadfree acid core solder worked great for resweating the seam...at least so far ( tested it to 12psi )

 

[WillWagner]

Coarse ground pepper or a cigarette or two. Put a tablespoon of pepper in the radiator and run it. A cig will do the same thing. Put the tobacco in the radiator and it will plug the leak like the pepper. Both have got me outa the woods..well, desert actually! Will work for 6 months or so.

 

[markmontana]

I've used JB Weld a couple times on small radiator leaks, and they've both held. If you try it, make sure the cap is off. Even a little residual pressure in the tank will prevent a good patch.

 

[7Dust]

You jinxed me! I just read this thread last night and sure enough today I notice MY radiator is leaking in the same spot!

 

[bratpackdad]

What are the odds of that..lol

 

[Garandfan]

Pull the radiator... It's the smartest thing to do. I ended spending time and money trying to do it myself only to end up pulling the radiator. Remember gravity works against you and the solder. The radiator shop charged me 120 to fix the leak, the loose fins in the core, the loose fan shroud and clean it.

 

[Stan Leschert]

Pull the Rad. If you think that you are good enough, unsolder the whole area, clean it, flux it and solder it!

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL YOU PUT ANY OTHER CRAP OR SEALANTS IN IT!

If you can't fix it, GET THEE TO A RAD SHOP!


There are many quick fixes that you could use, but they are for emergency recovery purposes only.

Ask yourself a question..... Just how much is your truck worth?


If you try to make an emergency field repair work (as a long term solution, in place of the correct repair... )

Just go and buy another truck!

A civvy one with a really good warranty, hopefully!


Seriously, emergency reapirs will get you home (maybe), but unless you rectify the original problem, get ready to part out your truck.

Spend a bit, save your investment!

BTW, I do have a fair amount of experience in emergency repairs on (1) MVs, and (2) in civvy life, and spend a lot of time running Demolition Derby, ... but in case #1) the issued Mil Trucks had a lifetime warranty, or in case #2) we just had to make them run for the next heat!

Quick fix, maybe. cleaning it afer will be a real pain!
Correct fix will take a little bit of work, or $$, but it's your truck, and your money.

 

[7Dust]

Decided to JB Weld mine. Turned out it was a (very) small crack in the front just below where the two halves of the top tank join.

I brushed the area clean and scuffed it up, applied the epoxy, and let it dry. Finally I hit it with a light coat of engine enamel. The repair is invisible and is not leaking.

The reason I chose this over pulling the radiator is because I figured I would bend more fins and cause more damage removing and reinstalling the radiator. Besides, the leak I was repairing was so miniscule that it was barely noticeable - it didn't make sense to perform drastic surgery when a tiny bandaid would work.

My truck leaks just about every other fluid - at least now coolant isn't one of them.

 

[hndrsonj]

The reason I chose this over pulling the radiator is because I figured I would bend more fins and cause more damage removing and reinstalling the radiator. Besides, the leak I was repairing was so miniscule that it was barely noticeable - it didn't make sense to perform drastic surgery when a tiny bandaid would work.

If you are bending any fins when pulling a radiator you are doing something wrong. I'd pull the radiator and solder it correctly for a permanent solution.

 

[tigger]

Trucks don't leak! They are just marking their territory!

 

[7Dust]

^^^ Yeah I guess I suck, don't love or deserve the truck, and should prolly have it taken away from me.

Anyhoo, while I like fixing things - I generaly don't fix anything fragile without breaking something in the process. Its just my long standing relationship and experience working with - ME.

While I would agree that solder is the optimum repair material I'm willing to bet this repair lasts every bit as long and looks just as good. This particular leak was soooo small as to be nearly undetectable.

I'm done defending my choice - just putting it out there as an option that worked for me. Your results may vary.

 

[Wolf.Dose]

You can try to fix your radiator by yourself. You can try to close small holes with any kind of radiator weld. This is ok, if you are somewere on the road (However, the radiator weld will also glue all hoses to the metal countwer parts, if this **** finds any very small gap to lay down in. I once needed new hoses for this, beside the repair costs of the radiator!). Easier is, to stop the truck, when engine coolant is warn, open the radiator cap and release the pressure. Then the radiator will not leak any more (this is tested, it works for several thousand miles!). But home trying repair to experiance will end in the radiator shop. They know the job better and have the propper equipment. If your radiator core leaks somewhere inside out of reach, I suggest to get a new radiator core. They last, if of very good quality, 20 years, however normally shorter. And you do not know the age of the core, so replace it! It cost some money, however, the next 7 to 10 years you do not have to think about that part. so the costs per year are..... relatively low....
Wolf