radiator leak

[evildragon]

My grandfather noticed my Caprice has a small leak at the radiator, on the drivers side, right next to where the PCM goes..

it seems to be coming out of the plastic itself...

is there anything that I can do, without having to replace the whole radiator?

(boy, does my Caprice have lots of problems)

[PeteA216]

Theres a strong possibility that the plastic is cracked, over time thats what happens to plastic under pressure. Same thing happened to my truck. Fortunately it was covered under a lifetime warrantee and my father back when he owned the truck kept the reciept from back in 1997. The guy at Modine was shocked to see one of these come back. He said people usually get rid of the vehicles before the radiator gets a chance to fail... Anyway, if you want to avoid replacing the radiator for now you can try some Bars Leak radiator stop leak. That will solve it temporaraly, but when I say temporaraly, I mean temporary. It may last a week, it may last a year, but if it is the plastic thats cracking, you probably don't have more than a year before it gets serious.

[evildragon]

Can I still drive my car until I get this done? I go to a technical college, and they don't like it when I skip a day (and i don't have another car to drive)..

If I have too, I could just keep an eye on the Low Collent light on the dash, and when it appears, just put more anti-freeze in it..

[evildragon]

Got some radiator leak stopping stuff.. Poured the whole bottle into the reseviour, including those weird looking pellets (that look like rocks)..

I don't understand how those pellet chunks won't clog the radiator up.. but, hope it works!

[bobss396]

Originally Posted by evildragon

Got some radiator leak stopping stuff.. Poured the whole bottle into the reseviour, including those weird looking pellets (that look like rocks)..

I don't understand how those pellet chunks won't clog the radiator up.. but, hope it works!

Nah, Barrs tends to collect in the heater core. I only use those packets of the silver powder to stop minor leaks. Half a shaker of pepper will do the same thing in a pinch.

Bob

[VanillaGorilla]

Hi.. You said barrs stop leak goes in the heater core.. would that help a small leak in the heater core.?

[mike561]

I tried that powder stuff in my pontiac's radiator, it slowed it down a bit but its depends how big the leak is

[inafogg]

pepper humm never heard of that one. learn something new every day

[mike561]

Its actually made by barrs but in powder form instead of liquid, it comes in a little tube

[CD Smalley]

Didn't MythBusters use and egg? Not a permanent solution, but if you're stuck on the side of the road...

[evildragon]

Yes, they did indeed. I wouldn't do that though.

Originally Posted by CD Smalley

Didn't MythBusters use and egg? Not a permanent solution, but if you're stuck on the side of the road...

[beat88ls]

Originally Posted by evildragon

Yes, they did indeed. I wouldn't do that though.

hey dont knock it... i have used the egg trick on a small leak in my old 88 caprice ls. mind you it was a small leak, but it held long enough to get it repaired.

[bobss396]

I had never heard of the egg trick, but if it works, it works! Actually it is quite harmless as it will eventually dissolve and wash out. You'd really be amazed at how much WORSE crud is circulating in a healthy cooling system.

Bob