Chasing Radiator Leak

[sconnors]

Put my coupe up for the winter and because I'm getting the wheels sandblasted and painted I have it up on jack stands. I noticed some anti freeze under the front end today and am trying to find out where it is coming from.

The bottom of the lower radiator hose is bone dry. I did see a trickle towards the bottom of the radiator. It looks like it's coming right from where the wiring harness attaches to the bottom. I pulled the harness away and it's wet there.

See the attached pics. I'm guessing I'm going to have to pull the radiator and have it repaired?
Ugh

 

[Synchro909]

There is a steel strap that goes under the bottom tank on these radiators. The steel rusts and eventually, a raised piece of rust will wear a hole in the bottom of he tank. I've had it happen - twice. The only way to repair it is to take it to a good radiator shop and ask them to either replace the steel strap or spend time on it to tin the whole thing.
I'm not saying that IS your problem but I think it is worth looking into.

 

[nkaminar]

Yes you are.

 

[Gene F]

Good luck.

 

[sconnors]

There is a steel strap that goes under the bottom tank on these radiators. The steel rusts and eventually, a raised piece of rust will wear a hole in the bottom of he tank. I've had it happen - twice. The only way to repair it is to take it to a good radiator shop and ask them to either replace the steel strap or spend time on it to tin the whole thing.
I'm not saying that IS your problem but I think it is worth looking into.

Thanks for information. Thankfully since it’s up for the winter I’ll have time to work on it.

 

[ursus]

I recently found such a leak, as described by Synchro909, where the bottom strap meets the core. After a flush of the radiator with a detergent solution, I scraped and wire brushed the gap and further cleaned away the rust with a phosphoric acid (metal prep) solution followed by a flush with baking soda and dish detergent in water. Once it was completely dry, I filled the gap with Permatex Ultra Black #82180, working the first application in with my finger. When that was nearly dry, a finish coating of the Permatex was applied. I refilled the system with fresh antifreeze and testing shows no leaks. Worked for me.

 

[1crosscut]

I recently found such a leak, as described by Synchro909, where the bottom strap meets the core. After a flush of the radiator with a detergent solution, I scraped and wire brushed the gap and further cleaned away the rust with a phosphoric acid (metal prep) solution followed by a flush with baking soda and dish detergent in water. Once it was completely dry, I filled the gap with Permatex Ultra Black #82180, working the first application in with my finger. When that was nearly dry, a finish coating of the Permatex was applied. I refilled the system with fresh antifreeze and testing shows no leaks. Worked for me.

I've done similar repairs on non pressurized radiators (my AA truck radiator 15 years ago and its still holding), hot tubs, back pack water bags for prairie management burns, chest waders among many other things with holes...
What I do is to cut a piece of cotton cloth (think t-shirt material) and saturate it with Permatex type rtv silicone by rubbing it into the cloth with my fingers. Apply the patch over the hole smoothing and pressing it in firmly in place.
Of course clean the area well prior to making the repair.
If for some reason it doesn't work a little time with a scraper and wire brush makes the patch go away.

 

[ronn]

as ursus says................


old timers just squeezed some black caulk in the back of the leak and have heard of it lasting 20 yrs. permatex sounds even better!


or make a huge project out of it.

 

[sconnors]

Pulled it out…sending it out for repair.