Radiator leaking

[ricnor]

1997 K2500 with a 454 vortec engine and auto box. The radiator is loosing water from where the auto box cooler is connected, it looks like there is a seal gone from the inside of the radiator header, is there a way of fitting a new seal without taking the radiator apart, does anyone know where I can get the correct seal from or if it is actually a part that is available in the first place.

[Vandalize]

Mine did that as well, though I only ended up tightening the nut on the outside that holds the fitting that the cooler line attaches to. It was leaking a lot of coolant and now doesn't leak at all. Hopefully yours can still be fixed this way.

[ricnor]

Thanks for the reply at least I know it is cureable, however in this case not as easy as your one. The first thing I did was try to tighten it up but it didn't seal the leak so now I am going to see if I can get a rubber seal and insert it into the header and re-tighten the nut. Fingers crossed as it will cost a small fortune over here for someone to split the tanks from the core and re-seal and on top of that the radiator is in great condition apart from this issue.

[MT-2500]

Originally Posted by ricnor

Thanks for the reply at least I know it is cureable, however in this case not as easy as your one. The first thing I did was try to tighten it up but it didn't seal the leak so now I am going to see if I can get a rubber seal and insert it into the header and re-tighten the nut. Fingers crossed as it will cost a small fortune over here for someone to split the tanks from the core and re-seal and on top of that the radiator is in great condition apart from this issue.

Always find for sure where it is leaking.
Plastic tank rad are bad about cracking in that area.

If so a new rad is your best fix on them.

[jdmccright]

I had a coolant leak like that too. As mentioned, tighening the big nut that holds the tranny cooler fittings eliminated the leak.

If the seals are truly gone, then you might try and squeeze some coolant compatible silicone into the crevice between the cooler fitting and the rad tank...won't be easy though.

Good luck!