small leak in radiator - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

aggiedave98 · 01-07-2006, 01:27 PM

I thought I'd find a lot of posts on this w/ a search, but didn't find much.

Anyway, I've got a small leak in my radiator. I'm not sure where, but if I crawl under the truck I can see some fluid at the lower point of the radiator. I fill up the overflow tank to the lower line every month or so. It slowly empties (as the radiator is leaking). Probably 6 months ago I put in some sealant that you pour in the radiator.

Should I try some more sealant? Is that stuff bad??

What are my other options? I think I've heard of places that will fix leaks. Is there a good way to find the leak??

piecesparts · 01-07-2006, 01:47 PM

To much sealant and you can plug the heater core up. I recommend that you find a decent radiator shop and pull the radiator out of the truck and fix it. Shops around my part of the country are not that expensive on small core repairs.

aggiedave98 · 01-07-2006, 01:48 PM

So can I just bring it in and they'll find the leak and fix it?? I'm going to be rebuilding the engine, so I can just do it then.

1983shorty · 01-07-2006, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aggiedave98

So can I just bring it in and they'll find the leak and fix it?? I'm going to be rebuilding the engine, so I can just do it then.

if you are rebuilding the engine i would get a new radiator or get yours recored. a new engine is "tighter" and will run a little hotter . if you can afford it , $150 or so for a new radiator is well worth the money to protect your new engine.

aggiedave98 · 01-07-2006, 02:11 PM

shorty, I'll probably get a new one... I plan on doing the rebuild right, so $150 for a new radiator would be worth it... especially since I put the sealant in there...

piecesparts · 01-07-2006, 02:50 PM

A good radiator shop could look your radiator over and tell you if it is worth the effort to clean it out (rod the core) or if you should replace it. I have had more than one cleaned and repaired. I support the idea of buying a new one if it is needed. I had a truck that I chose to do that with, I even bought a core with more rows than the original and my cost was around $100.00 from the radiator shop. I have another truck that I put an aftermarket aluminum radiator in and it cost a lot more, along with the electric fans that I also put in.

**smokinn** · 01-07-2006, 07:11 PM

On myth busters they put a egg in the radiator to stop a leak and it worked.

OJOE · 01-08-2006, 08:54 PM

on a big leak use the whole chicken ha ha

**smokinn** · 01-09-2006, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OJOE

on a big leak use the whole chicken ha ha

No just use a dozen. LOL

aggiedave98 · 01-08-2006, 10:03 PM

I watch Mythbusters sometimes, but didn't see that one... that's pretty funny though.

01-07-2006, 01:27 PM	#1
aggiedave98 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Sugar Land, TX Posts: 1,007	small leak in radiator I thought I'd find a lot of posts on this w/ a search, but didn't find much. Anyway, I've got a small leak in my radiator. I'm not sure where, but if I crawl under the truck I can see some fluid at the lower point of the radiator. I fill up the overflow tank to the lower line every month or so. It slowly empties (as the radiator is leaking). Probably 6 months ago I put in some sealant that you pour in the radiator. Should I try some more sealant? Is that stuff bad?? What are my other options? I think I've heard of places that will fix leaks. Is there a good way to find the leak??

01-07-2006, 01:47 PM	#2
piecesparts Parts and more parts Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lebo, Kansas (middle of nowhere Posts: 6,821	Re: small leak in radiator To much sealant and you can plug the heater core up. I recommend that you find a decent radiator shop and pull the radiator out of the truck and fix it. Shops around my part of the country are not that expensive on small core repairs.

01-07-2006, 01:48 PM	#3
aggiedave98 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Sugar Land, TX Posts: 1,007	Re: small leak in radiator So can I just bring it in and they'll find the leak and fix it?? I'm going to be rebuilding the engine, so I can just do it then.

01-07-2006, 02:11 PM	#5
aggiedave98 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Sugar Land, TX Posts: 1,007	Re: small leak in radiator shorty, I'll probably get a new one... I plan on doing the rebuild right, so $150 for a new radiator would be worth it... especially since I put the sealant in there...

01-07-2006, 02:50 PM	#6
piecesparts Parts and more parts Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lebo, Kansas (middle of nowhere Posts: 6,821	Re: small leak in radiator A good radiator shop could look your radiator over and tell you if it is worth the effort to clean it out (rod the core) or if you should replace it. I have had more than one cleaned and repaired. I support the idea of buying a new one if it is needed. I had a truck that I chose to do that with, I even bought a core with more rows than the original and my cost was around $100.00 from the radiator shop. I have another truck that I put an aftermarket aluminum radiator in and it cost a lot more, along with the electric fans that I also put in.

01-07-2006, 07:11 PM	#7
smokinn Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: omaha,Ne Posts: 617	Re: small leak in radiator On myth busters they put a egg in the radiator to stop a leak and it worked.

01-08-2006, 08:54 PM	#8
OJOE Crew Cut Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: MONTGOMERY,AL Posts: 757	Re: small leak in radiator on a big leak use the whole chicken ha ha __________________ 85 SWB 1/2 TON CREWCAB/5.3 03 CHEV 3500 DURAMAX CREW CAB 85 CHEV SWB/TPI 06 CHEV TAHOE (WIFES) 30 MODEL A HOT ROD 07 HARLEY DAVIDSON BAGGER 09 STREET GLIDE AN D A LOT MORE JUNK

01-08-2006, 10:03 PM	#10
aggiedave98 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Sugar Land, TX Posts: 1,007	Re: small leak in radiator I watch Mythbusters sometimes, but didn't see that one... that's pretty funny though.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.