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

aggiedave98 · 01-08-2006, 10:03 PM

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

**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

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: 619	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	#9
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.



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