Engine Coolant Leak at Radiator

[kyleaaronburkett]

I noticed an engine coolant leak and added UV dye. It seems like it's leaking from a joint near the radiator. Any suggestions on what I should check, or what could be the issue?

Sent from my moto g(7) using Tapatalk

 

[kyleaaronburkett]

bump, what am I doing wrong that this thread has no views at all

Sent from my moto g(7) using Tapatalk

 

[kyleaaronburkett]

Any ideas at all guys? No one has seen a leak from here like this?

Sent from my moto g(7) using Tapatalk

 

[16plati]

What year?

 

[Don Hall]

May help (?):

https://mobiloil.com/en/article/car...ant-leak-detection-and-its-repair-replacement

 

[Trainmaster]

If a plastic and aluminum radiator's leaking you know what your choices are. Get a new one, and I don't hear many good stories about the cheap knock-offs.

 

[kyleaaronburkett]

@16plati it's an 07

Sent from my moto g(7) using Tapatalk

 

[kyleaaronburkett]

@ Don Hall thanks for the link I will check this out asap

Sent from my moto g(7) using Tapatalk

 

[kyleaaronburkett]

If a plastic and aluminum radiator's leaking you know what your choices are. Get a new one, and I don't hear many good stories about the cheap knock-offs.

Yeah, I'm hoping I don't have to replace the whole radiator but we will see I guess. The leak is undeniably coming from this spot so unfortunately it's not the problem with the T pipe so many report

Sent from my moto g(7) using Tapatalk

 

[kyleaaronburkett]

I have an appointment at a shop on Monday for brakes , I plan to point out the leak and ask for an opinion. I am praying that it's an issue with assembly and not with any of the components ... It's clear that the leak is from the spot I circled

Sent from my moto g(7) using Tapatalk

 

[kyleaaronburkett]

I didn't feel comfortable with this mechanic so I didn't ask his opinion on the leak. He seemed like he was on the prowl to mark up prices and blow things out of proportion..

Will look at some other mechanics but in the meantime, still open to any opinions here

Sent from my moto g(7) using Tapatalk

 

[kyleaaronburkett]

I found a small hole in the plastic piece I had circled in the photo. I stopped at a rest stop and was shocked to see coolant everywhere. I popped the hood and saw it actively spraying so knew exactly the location of the leak. We taped it to get to the closest autopart store an hour away. I bought JB plastic weld and applied to where the hole was. We are waiting for it to cure right now. Will update.



Sent from my moto g(7) using Tapatalk

 

[Langer]

Bummer! Hope it holds!

 

[kyleaaronburkett]

Bummer! Hope it holds!

Thank you! I will update on this JB plastic weld once we road test it a bit. It was only $12 for the kit so I'm not confident it will completely fix us. It seems to have cured pretty well and formed a nice plastic seal over the hole though. We will see if the pressure and heat has any detrimental effects

Sent from my moto g(7) using Tapatalk

 

[TobyU]

JB weld is hit or miss on leaks like this> Doesn't matter if you use the plastic or the special radiator or gas tank one either but I will say regular slow overnight JB weld is better than JB Quick or is it Quik?

The key is surface prep and ability to get to the location.

If you scuff it up and I even use razor blade to put cross hatch lines in t on both sides of crack and then clean well with rubbing alcohol or brake or carb cleaner then wipe with clean towel....then if you can get the sealer on there (I have used the sticks and the two part thinner mixes) you can sometimes get a lasting repair.
I like to seal with JB weld and I stamp the edges down with finger or screwdriver like a pie crust..then when dry I go over with RTV to completely cover the repair and especially the edges around it.

 

[kyleaaronburkett]

when dry I go over with RTV to completely cover the repair and especially the edges around it.

RTV silicone?

Thanks for the tips. I must have used the quick because it only instructed an hour to fully cure. I let it cure for maybe 2 hours before filling with coolant and running it. I still have a leak but it *seems* like it's in a different area on the same plastic piece.

Sent from my moto g(7) using Tapatalk

 

[Frank Wilson]

Replace the radiator. That is the only repair possible. Its a litle lessexpensive than replacing the engine. Just a little.

 

[bobmbx]

Replace the radiator. That is the only repair possible. Its a litle lessexpensive than replacing the engine. Just a little.

If you do it yourself, let us know what new curse words you discover.

 

[JExpedition07]

It shouldn’t be too bad if you do, pull the whole front of that truck off will take about an hour. When I did my A/C compressor I could have changed the radiator while I was in there it’s right behind the condenser.

The grille and bumper cover come off together there are fasteners in the fenders, wheel well matting, and up top beneath the shroud cover. Pull all the plastic stuff off with headlights and the whole front end will come straight off.

 

[JExpedition07]

Also flush that whole coolant system, there should not be green antifreeze in that truck. It should be gold, someone put the wrong crap in, which likely reacted with the newer acidic coolant that should be in there and ate threw whatever caused the leak