Radiator leaking coolant
Jmalbright
02-01-2009, 09:50 PM
Hello,
I have a 2004 Alero with the 3400 V6 engine. I am having trouble with the radiator leaking coolant. It is leaking at the drain plug so my first thought was to get a new petcock. However, after doing that I still have a leak. When I removed the petcock, I noticed the rubber o-ring was unusually deformed at a certain spot leading me to believe that the problem is not with the petcock, but with the radiator itself.
I'm not sure how this could have happened. I flushed my cooling system a month ago and it hasn't leaked since, that is, until yesterday. Anyway, I guess my question is whether anything can be done short of a complete radiator replacement?
I have a 2004 Alero with the 3400 V6 engine. I am having trouble with the radiator leaking coolant. It is leaking at the drain plug so my first thought was to get a new petcock. However, after doing that I still have a leak. When I removed the petcock, I noticed the rubber o-ring was unusually deformed at a certain spot leading me to believe that the problem is not with the petcock, but with the radiator itself.
I'm not sure how this could have happened. I flushed my cooling system a month ago and it hasn't leaked since, that is, until yesterday. Anyway, I guess my question is whether anything can be done short of a complete radiator replacement?
aleromgf
02-02-2009, 10:47 AM
Hello, Jmalbright
Did the new plug come with its own o-ring?
Did the new plug come with its own o-ring?
Jmalbright
02-02-2009, 11:58 AM
Hello, Jmalbright
Did the new plug come with its own o-ring?
Yes, the new plug came with its own, new o-ring.
Did the new plug come with its own o-ring?
Yes, the new plug came with its own, new o-ring.
aleromgf
02-02-2009, 08:45 PM
Did both petcocks develop a deformation of the o-ring?
Might there have been some debris in the seat area of the petcock at the radiator?
Might there have been some debris in the seat area of the petcock at the radiator?
Jmalbright
02-03-2009, 12:27 PM
Did both petcocks develop a deformation of the o-ring?
Might there have been some debris in the seat area of the petcock at the radiator?
The original petcock's o-ring had a small area gouged out to the point that it was completely missing a small piece . Thus, I installed the new petcock and after it wouldn't stop leaking, I pulled it out and noticed the deformation on the new o-ring.
My first thought was that there was something stuck in the radiator, maybe the missing piece of the original o-ring, or some other debris, but it was just too tight of a spot for me to get a good look to determine the problem. So I took a small flathead screwdriver and gently scraped around the area where the petcock inserts into the radiator in hope that I would dislodge any blockage even though I couldn't see a damn thing.
Finally, I took the new o-ring off the new petcock and installed it on the old petcock and put the old petcock in. It's been about a day and I haven't noticed any leaking since so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the issue has been resolved and I don't have to get a new radiator.
Might there have been some debris in the seat area of the petcock at the radiator?
The original petcock's o-ring had a small area gouged out to the point that it was completely missing a small piece . Thus, I installed the new petcock and after it wouldn't stop leaking, I pulled it out and noticed the deformation on the new o-ring.
My first thought was that there was something stuck in the radiator, maybe the missing piece of the original o-ring, or some other debris, but it was just too tight of a spot for me to get a good look to determine the problem. So I took a small flathead screwdriver and gently scraped around the area where the petcock inserts into the radiator in hope that I would dislodge any blockage even though I couldn't see a damn thing.
Finally, I took the new o-ring off the new petcock and installed it on the old petcock and put the old petcock in. It's been about a day and I haven't noticed any leaking since so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the issue has been resolved and I don't have to get a new radiator.
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