1995 Toyota Camry Radiator Leak

[nipsirc]

I have a 1995 Toyota Camry with a 2.2L engine FWD with an OD.

The radiator is leaking near the very top, front, along what looks like a seam pressed together with a series (about 100) of small metal tabs.

I made the mistake of pouring/mixing it with the green coolant in the reservoir.

HOW CAN I FIX IT?

Seems like it could be welded or soldered without removing the radiator.

Comments?

[Strider327]

B&J Radiator fixes at Kragen or auto zone. But it will only temporarily seal the crack, you will need to replace it with a new one no matter what.

[Toysrme]

Ditch it & buy a new one oughta be like 60-90 with the core. Flush the engine like crazy with a cleaner.

[nipsirc]

Originally Posted by Toysrme

Flush the engine like crazy with a cleaner.

Why do I need to flush the engine if the radiator is the one broken? I'm confused !

[nipsirc]

Yes, I went ahead and ditch the old one, had a new one replaced and all is well

Cost me almost $300 canadian with taxes and labour charges.

Well worth it !

[AccordCodger]

Why do I need to flush the engine if the radiator is the one broken? I'm confused !

You don't (and it has nothing to do with the cracked rad.) It's just a good opportunity to do something that should be done periodically anyway.

I'm not sure about the "like crazy" part. A (correct) flush is a flush. That's it.

[Toysrme]

You do.
Radiators don't crack for no reason.
They normally fail because the coolant isn't changed enough. Making the coolant mixture turn both into a sludgy / gelly mess that gunks up in all kinds of passages, AND it turns corrosive, eating away at the coolant parts. (Generally the radiator goes first, then then water pump fins corrode off).

You must flush the engine after changing a radiator, else there is a large risk that you'll run into more cooling problems down the road.





You really need to get a cooling system cleaner & flush the block out.
2 gallons of coolant is $5 in most places. That's about twice as much as you need once it's mixed.

[AccordCodger]

Radiators don't crack for no reason.

They do if they are plastic. And especially if they are old - 11 years from a plastic header (if it's never been replaced before) is pretty fair.

Corrosive solution won't eat a plastic header - old age and heat will.

[Toysrme]

Ya they do easily if they're plastic. Toyota hasn't used a non plastic radiator in say 20 years? Even if it's not plastic what happens? You've still got corrosion & gum eroding things & clogging the cooling system & instead of another plastic radiator cracking, you're left with a very large problem brewing.
What makes the radiators fail is the 1-2 punch from coolant problems. I is not some random event that is "suppose" to happen eventually. It is the result of a coolant mixture that is trying to slowly eat everything & clogged passages resulting from the gel crap coolant turns into over time.


A side note for any coolant discussion.
Never mix Toyota's red long life coolant with any traditional coolant. The inhibitor packages break down very quickly; turning into a highly corrosive mess. It also turns into a stiff gel that will clog many things in a short amount of time!
Also never use Toyota red in an iron block engine. The inhibitor package works well for Aluminum, but will break down & attack ferrite metals.