97 C1500 Radiator Question

[ArchyD]

Yesterday, the drain valve departed my radiator dumping the entire contents of the cooling system and leaving me with an extremely overheated engine in traffic.

The Truck is a '97 C1500 Cheyenne, 4.3 L V6 Automatic w/206,000 miles of mostly highway driving.

I am not familiar with how the radiator (Original to the truck) is built so to see what appears to be an empty twist socket where the drain valve used to be is confusing.

My questions are: Does the OEM radiator have a safety to keep the radiator from exploding, at the expense of the engine ?

Does anyone have experience with this type of failure, is the valve replacable to save the purchase of a new radiator as this one appears to be fine?

[MT-2500]

Originally Posted by ArchyD

Yesterday, the drain valve departed my radiator dumping the entire contents of the cooling system and leaving me with an extremely overheated engine in traffic.

The Truck is a '97 C1500 Cheyenne, 4.3 L V6 Automatic w/206,000 miles of mostly highway driving.

I am not familiar with how the radiator (Original to the truck) is built so to see what appears to be an empty twist socket where the drain valve used to be is confusing.

My questions are: Does the OEM radiator have a safety to keep the radiator from exploding, at the expense of the engine ?

Does anyone have experience with this type of failure, is the valve replacable to save the purchase of a new radiator as this one appears to be fine?

Welcome to the world of plastic.
You might be able to get a drain repair kit but if it was me I would go for a new rad and be done with it.
It is 10 years old and plastic gives out very quick.
If you get the drain kit make sure it tightens up good and tight.
Good Luck
MT

[alblogg]

The one in my '88 did the same thing only my truck was just four or five years old I think. I got a new drain valve from the Chevy place just to see stuck it in screwed it an it tightened up, the same rad and drain plug is still in the truck now. It's your call $150-200 for a rad or try another plug but if you have been having rad problems just go ahead and replace.

[Mr. Smith]

Originally Posted by ArchyD

Yesterday, the drain valve departed my radiator dumping the entire contents of the cooling system and leaving me with an extremely overheated engine in traffic.

The Truck is a '97 C1500 Cheyenne, 4.3 L V6 Automatic w/206,000 miles of mostly highway driving.

I am not familiar with how the radiator (Original to the truck) is built so to see what appears to be an empty twist socket where the drain valve used to be is confusing.

My questions are: Does the OEM radiator have a safety to keep the radiator from exploding, at the expense of the engine ?

Does anyone have experience with this type of failure, is the valve replacable to save the purchase of a new radiator as this one appears to be fine?

If it overheated real bad your engine is on borrowed time. Heads crack and gaskets let go.