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Radiator leak

Tiny
ANONYMOUS
  • MEMBER
  • 1981 CHEVROLET IMPALA
Can I use stop leak to seal a leak on the outside of a radiator? Or what could I use to seal the outside of a radiator?
Tuesday, February 26th, 2013 AT 6:25 PM

10 Replies

Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
The best thing to do, is order a new radiator. You can go to radiator shop, get them to quote you a price on new radiator. That stop leak might seal a small leak from the inside. I dont like to use that stuff. If small leak in metal/brass radiator tank, The radiator shop might be able to soldier it for you, might last a little while?

If it is a hose leak it will just get worse, no stop leak will fix it.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-is-leaking-coolant

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/coolant-leak-symptoms
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Tuesday, February 26th, 2013 AT 6:35 PM
Tiny
ALWAYSROAMING1
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
My radiator is leaking from the bottom it looks like from a plug
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Sunday, February 24th, 2019 AT 8:22 AM (Merged)
Tiny
FIXITMR
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,990 POSTS
A picture would help. Could be a drain plug? Any work done on cooling system lately?
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Sunday, February 24th, 2019 AT 8:22 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,938 POSTS
If it is a drain plug the rubber washer may be perished or some use an "O" ring seal, check this out, it's now a good time to flush the system if you have to remove the drain ****.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Sunday, February 24th, 2019 AT 8:22 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MONCHO11
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 78,500 MILES
I notice this morning that from the bottom left side off the radiator there was comming a constant drop off coolant and when I checked there seems to be like a round rubber seal and the drop is coming from there. Did I have to replace the whole radiator or there something I can do to fixed it
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Sunday, February 24th, 2019 AT 8:22 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
What you should try is tightening the hose clamps and checking the hoses for any cracks or signs of bulging, if thats found, replace the hoses. A pressure test will find the leaks.
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Sunday, February 24th, 2019 AT 8:22 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MSKBLAIR
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA
  • 3.8L
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 110,000 MILES
I took my car to a repair because the radiator was leaking. The mechanic said he has to do a diagnostic to be sure, two days later he said that the radiator has a hole in it and needed replace $399.00. After replacing it than he call and said that my head gasket was blow, and I needed a new motor at $2,200. My question is: 1) should have the diagnostic testing should have catch that. 2.) Should I have to pay $399.00 for a repair that didn't fix my car.
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Sunday, February 24th, 2019 AT 8:22 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,170 POSTS
This is a tough one to answer. Since you did have a leak in the radiator, I would say it would have needed replaced anyway. As far as the head gasket, was there anything that was said or mentioned to the mechanic that would have made him question the gasket? If not, chances are the problem wasn't noticed until the engine was running and warmed up.

That leads me to my next question. Why does the engine need replaced? A head gasket can be replaced to repair the engine.
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Sunday, February 24th, 2019 AT 8:22 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ROKBEAT
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA
  • 160 MILES
My Chevy impala 2004 which was running perfectly in summers suddenly has started heating up to full gauge as winters started and I turned on heaters.
At first I thought it is due to radiator leak. Once I found the jug full but no coolant in radiator. Checked at a workshop for leak but no leakage found. Twice this happened that there was nothing in radiator and jug was full. I put some coolant in radiator.
Nothing improved. Car heats up as soon as u start driving even if there is coolant in radiator and jug. Fans working fine.
Strange thing is that car starts cooling down as I press full gas and Accelerate sharply. Even at fast but constant speed car heats up. Then I have to put it in neutral while running and pump full gas and it starts cooling but heats up again as I start normal driving or stop At signals.

I do feel there is some drop in radiator level but nothing seems dripping and parking is dry.

Someone told me it might be radiator cap and thermostat issue but really I don't see signs of leakage.

Any ideas?

Mfk Toronto.
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Sunday, February 24th, 2019 AT 8:22 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RENAUDTN
  • MECHANIC
  • 636 POSTS
If you found your radiator empty on several occasions, all that coolant has to be somewhere. It can't just disappear.
Again, make sure there is no external leak anywhere; there are many places coolant can leak beside the radiator itself (including the radiator cap as you mentioned - a $5-10 fix).

If you are absolutely certain there is no external leak, check your oil and your transmission fluid. If your cooler is leaking, you could have coolant in your transmission. Some coolant could also end up in your crankcase (oil) due to a bad lower intake manifold gasket for example (common problem on this car). You could also have a bad head gasket (coolant ends up in your cylinders and burn resulting in excessive white smoke at the tail pipe). Those are all bad scenarios.
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Sunday, February 24th, 2019 AT 8:22 AM (Merged)

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