i noticed some dried spots on my engine that looked to be antifreeze...upon closer inspection and with the car running i noticed a small crack the size of a hair lengthwise across the radiator...it only leaks when the car is running bc its near the top...is there anything i can do beside replace the entire radiator...if so how much do they usually run and wheres the best place to get one.

 

JB Weld works, they also make radiator "sticks" for exactly your type of problem. Go use that, and be done with it.....

If it gets worse, I'd just get a new radiator....

 

id say if you had to replace the radiator then if you want OEM call Dave B, or if you wanna deal with an online vendor, go to

www.autopartswarehouse.com they sell OEM as well as the OEM equivalent, and several AM radiators.....

 

or get this:

http://forum.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=487288

 

use the radiator repair stuff. liquid with metal shavings. you pour it in the radiator, the shavings heat up, and seal the hole.

 

I suggest replacing the rad. If it has an hairline crack in one spot chances are it will develop a crack somewhere else. I wouldn't put any radiator stop leak in the rad, I don't like the idea of little pieces of stuff floating around the water pump and possibly causing the seal to fail then you have a big job in order to replace your water pump. Have you changed your radiator coolant before? If yes, at what interval did you do it? Before replacing the rad and the car hot(operating temp.) check your hoses since it would be an excellent time to replace those and if it is time for new coolant do that also when you change the rad.

 

Which temporary stop leak solution should I use (don't have enough to drop on a Radiator right now)


JB Weld Perm O Seal
AlumaSeal
Bar's Leaks Liquid Aluminum

 

I know this sounds dumb but for the life of me I can't tell where the leak is coming from. I see coolant on the very top of the radiator's plastic lining and I follow the small stream all the way to the cap but the cap and the hose that connects to it is dry. The hoses have no visible cracks.

 

ya then it clogs other stuff like your water pump ..... replace the whole thing and call it done

 

Word from the wise, replace it. I had this same problem a few weeks ago and after three failed patch attempts and a rad fluid flood in my engine bay, I got a new radiator. It started out as a small hairline and ended up as a crack, it will only get worse.

Get in touch with importrp on this forum. He sells Kayo oem rad replacements and you can find his Kayo thread in the Group deals/sponsors section. They run a little over $130 dollars, you cant beat the price.

 

hello old thread!

 

Yes it's an old thread and half of these guys are probably in their eighties driving crown vics now but check it I got this very similar problem where the radiator leaks. I'm not sure which Temp solution stop leak can work until the 1st of the month when I get pizzaid so I can replace my Radiator.

JB Weld Perm O Seal?
AlumaSeal?
Bar's Liquid Aluminum?

Do you really run the engine without Radiator cap on and pour this stuff in?

 

Dont put that crap in your cooling system. If its just a hairline crack or small leak just keep filling it with water for 2 more weeks until you get "pizzaid". And keep an eye on your temps. Or try buying a new cap if it looks like its coming from there.

 

Agreed. 50% of the time those additives only work 25% of the time.

Just keep an eye on your temperature gauge and coolant level. Usually a hairline crack takes a while to get bad enough it won't hold water. Get a crack down the side and you aren't going anywhere until you get a new one.

$130 or so, about an hour to remove and replace.

 

Got a quote from a shop down the street that specializes in Zs. Tell me if this is a good deal

$297.59

Which Includes:

New Radiator
New Coolant
Install
Tax and License

 

Radiator will cost ~150....coolant another 10-20. Labor will prolly be about 2 hours. So that's a decent enough deal.

 

or do it ourself

 

Or, you can save yourself the cost of labor and do it yourself. It's not hard at all, just a little messy. If you big timin the it's whatever, spend the loot.

 

Yeah I said it was decent not great. I'd do it myself.

 

How funny... I'm having the same problem.... the top plastic part of the radiator has a couple of cracks in it. I bought a new one from NAPA for $150 (the stealership wanted $521 for one) and will be installing it this weekend. Honestly, I've never heard of such a problem but there is always a first time...