94 - slow radiator leak, cause for concern?
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94 - slow radiator leak, cause for concern?
In the process of trying to get my coming system air tight, I discovered a very slow leak at the top of my radiator near the UR Hose as shown here:
https://drivehq.com/folder/p8942603.aspx
It'* very slow it seems. Only found it because it made some fizzing sounds. Any need to worry?
https://drivehq.com/folder/p8942603.aspx
It'* very slow it seems. Only found it because it made some fizzing sounds. Any need to worry?
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I'll look onto those. I don't want to have to replace it
Also I just replaced the UR hose and clamp and it looks like some coolant is all escaping on the radiator side. Any suggestions? Clamp is nice and tight
Also I just replaced the UR hose and clamp and it looks like some coolant is all escaping on the radiator side. Any suggestions? Clamp is nice and tight
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The hose in question can be seen in the picture. Nearly as far on as it will go. I did clean the connection point on the radiator prior to putting the new hose on. I'll verify the clamp isn't too close to the edge, but I'm fairly certain I checked that a few times as well.
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If it'* leaking on top, that'* not a slow leak. It'* a pressure related leak. When the cooling system gets warmed up and starts to build up pressure, the tank is being expanded by the pressure and that leak opens and the pressure is squirting the water out. It will speed up the longer it goes as the tank cracks open more.
When the pressure is reduced or gone, there'* not much leaking.
The problem is that you hear the sputtering. The means there'* air being left in the radiator and coolant is not being sucked back from the reservoir tank properly. Otherwise the sound would have been just the coolant oozing or the sound of the squirt through the crack.
Replace radiator. It'* a few bolts and hoses and the metal lines for the transmission cooler, and it lifts right out of the sponge rubber holder on the bottoms. You can see the sponge rubber holder in your picture on the top.
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The coolant is coming out of the joint between the plastic piece along the side of the radiator and the radiator itself. The minor hose leak is separate.
The pressure test was done on a cool engine. Coolant did slowly "bubbled" through the joint pictured when pressure was hit. So the sound was coolant coming out of the radiator through the crack.
The pressure test was done on a cool engine. Coolant did slowly "bubbled" through the joint pictured when pressure was hit. So the sound was coolant coming out of the radiator through the crack.
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Is the plastic epoxy/JB Weld a reliable repair for such a small leak or is it just putting off the inevitable of replacing it? I know the repair itself is no big deal, but I'd prefer the $5 epoxy over the $100-$200 radiator!