Radiator repair?

[mikeemon]

I have a crack in the plastic side tank in a radiator. It is verticle about 1" long and is in the flat area, not the rib. Has anyone had any luck with epoxy or anything to repair these types of cracks? My budget is fried so I really don't want to spend the $$ for a new rad right now if it could be put off for a little while.

[Morley]

I've tried the epoxy repairs, no go. You could remove the radiator and take it to a shop. They can replace the tanks there.

[mikeemon]

I called a couple of shops in my nearby area and they said they don't really retank the plastic ones anymore. Too many problems with the replacements leaking over time at the crimp.

[mikeemon]

Okay, so I installed the new radiator and changed the oil. Got it all done by 10 pm with very little mess. Yeah! Then I started it up. Yeah, it runs! Then I realize the bottom oil cooler line is leaking. ONO! Shut it off. Oil pumps pump alot of oil, yikes. In the short time running 3.5qts running down the driveway. The cooler line was not locked in right and came loose. GD! MF! CS! POS! F! F! F!!! Time to get more oil. 24hr gas station. Need bags of kitty litter. 24 hr supermarket. Anyhow got things squared away by 2am. Ugh I'm draggin' today. That stain will come out eventually, right?

[Morley]

Go to Home Depot and get a gallon of HD SimpleGreen (it is purple in color) for $10, pour some on the stain and scrub it with a scrubbrush, hose it off and you should be good.

[mikeemon]

I will give that a try, thanks. I'm just glad I was in the driveway and not in the garage. And also that the engine survived.