Hey guys-

Don't quite know how it got there, but there is a small crack on the plastic top of my radiator where small amounts of coolant will leak out from...Just enough to pool up around the crack.

I tried putting a bead of epoxy over it, but it didn't hold for very long. Any suggestions on what to use?

 

don't hate me but you gotta get another radiator. or have a radiator shop swap end tanks for you.

 

clean it, dry it, rough it up, clean it, JB weld it.

 

+1

 

I think I will at least try this first.

 

oh yeah definitely try it. what helps is making the hold bigger so more of the JB weld gets in there..BUT prepare to get another radiator.

 

my radiator had a leak on the top part of it as well, it was a hairline crack that leaked coolant when it got hot

I patched it, but it only slowed the leak down.

your gonna need a new radiator soon even if you patch. get new hoses while your at that

 

My vote is for a new radiator.

Any time you try to fix a radiator you risk getting stuff into the coolant system and screwing it up.

Glue, stop-leak crap, whatever, might end up in the coolant, which could shorten the life of the water pump and other internal parts.

 

the ONLY reason I suggest the JB is because it has worked before. back in the day a friend of mine cracked the radiator tank on his car. He JBed it and it worked, he was shocked that it worked and stayed working for a long time.

 

Mythbusters did it with a raw egg... wanna experiment?

 

I wasn't putting you down, brotha.

I know you would be able to find a VE for $50 with a leaky radiator, spend $5 on JB Weld, drive it for a year, then sell the car for $1100 without doing anything else to the car.

Most of us would end up spending a few hundred on a new water pump after some JB Weld managed to sneak into the system and ruin it.

I have seen a lot of crazy stuff fixed with JB Weld. A friend of mine had a dirt bike that had a cracked piston he fixed with JB Weld and he ran it for several years before actually buying a rebuild kit for it.

 

your friend's radiator have plastic or metal end tanks?

 

Yeah sorry to break it to you but its just not worth the trouble. Get a new rad!
Same thing happened to me, its better knowing that you fixed it properly than a half *** quick fix on your car IMO.

 

Well, I for one would recommend the JB Weld if you're on a tight budget currently. I had a similar crack in my radiator casing (plastic) and repaired it with JB Weld. It held for a while but then started leaking. I then drilled out the crack with a 1/4" drill bit and filled with JB Weld in two layers/applications. A month later two more cracks formed farther to the left side of the casing and I drilled them out and filled them as well. In the meantime I ordered an all aluminum radiator that I currently have siting in my shed waiting for me to have time to install it. The car has been running with those patches for about two months now with no leaks or apparent problems. I don't know if I'll have problems soon if I leave the old radiator in there for long, but I figure it at least gives me time to address other problems first, like not having working a/c in Florida during the summer!

So, of course a new radiator is the best solution. For a link to the all aluminum one I have search for radiator threads a couple months ago, you'll see the link there. But in the meantime JB Weld is the way to go for a quick (overnight) fix. I'll post pics soon.

Good luck

 

Bite the bullet and buy a radiator. I know it sucks but your radiator is probably junk throughout. The bottom is probably caked and it most likely doesn't flow right.

 

Plastic. Metal would have been welded at the rad shop down the block.

 

I wish I could find a VE for $50 these days.

 

hell I bought mine for $250.

 

250 != 50
I bought a 96 max for $260 last week, I sold it > 36 hours later for $340 (sans radio)
up here VEs are pricey are or beyond hope of repair. It is not unusual for me to see a 3rd gen for 2k+ same as a 4th gen

 

A few days ago I saw a '93 GXE listed here in Dallas for $5,995

Several others listed in about the $4k range. I bought my VE 5 for $4k over 6 years ago!

 

Ben.. Just suck it up and buy another radiator. I've patched those cracks with eveyrthing from RTV to superglue to fiberglass to JB weld. nothing works forever.

You can buy and OEM upper end tank and a seal for about $80 in parts and have a radiator shop put it together for you. But I'd only do that if the rest of your radiator is in good shape. Otherwise, contact your good parts buddy Brian for a Koyo OE replacement radiator for $150 ish (guessing on $$)

 

I will replace it sooner or later, but I've got LOTS of bills right now between moving, putting new tires on the 'vette ($$$), the Maxima needing an input shaft bearing ($$$), etc. It is a small crack, so I will live with it for now.

 

who is this "Brian"... and are Koyo's an improvement in quality? or performance? or both?
and... what's this stuff about "1 row" and "dual/2 row" stuff?

I need a replacment soon too...


*edit*
ebay-search and found this: LINKY LOO

so... the question now is... am I going to support a possible Maxima enthusiast ("brian") or just go Ebay?

 

Works like a charm

 

I had the same thing, I just kept topping up the coolant. Then it burst open while I was out of town. I had to leave the car on the interstate with the keys on the tire for the tow man and let it get taken to an unknown shop. You need to just get a new radiator right now IMO.

 

I hit a deer like ~3 years ago, and the impact sheered off the top nub for the rubber shock mounts. The hole was like 3/4" maybe 1/2", I used a self taping oil pan bolt and a big washer and some epoxy. Sure it leaked over time, all I had to do was add one of those saw dust pellets that's added to the coolant and its been fine ever since. I've added the saw dust pellets in the past to solve the freeze plug leak that so many of us get.

 

A new radiator is like 36$ on ebay, I'll call that cheap
Got one there myself, works great.

 

Thats cheap, for the VE it needs to be the beefier double row, ~$130 (still cheap IMO).

 

I am the aforementioned Brian. I typically can not compete with ebay pricing nor do I attempt to. I charge a price that I feel is fair and that I can make a few bucks on.
I am a reasonable person to deal with and try my best to take care of my customers.