I just finished swapping my radiator that was "rebuilt".. (I assume it was just painted)

It's leaking here:


Green lines show the leak spots..
Different radiator and the leak is in the front side but you get the idea.. THAT seam.

How do i make it stop leaking?
I already poured a can of stop leak but it didn't help.

I was thinking about putting RTV super silicone on the seam to at least slow down the leak but should i try to crimp the seam with pliers?

_________________

Bump!

_________________

i think the best method for a permanent fix is to take it to a local rad shop and have it soldered

It's a 30€ radiator.. I'd rather just temp fix it for the winter and buy a new radiator next year..

_________________

A soldering iron and some solder. Or brazing if you have the skills.

_________________
Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.

Soldered the seam and put some RTV silicone on top.. Managed to plug 1/3 of the holes.. The biggest hole is now plugged properly but still two little pin hole leaks are still there.. They're leaking a droplet when i ran the car on operating temps. When i blow on the droplet, slowly new one comes..

It used to squirt a stream of coolant before so this is a big improvement..

Going to resolder the two spots that are leaking on the weekend.

_________________

carry a jug(s) of water-antifreeze in the trunk

if you have my luck, it will blow at the furthest location from a water source..

Put this in your "might work" file. If the remaining leak is very close to the fill cap, you might be able to paint some sealer with a stick or wire, from the inside of the leak area. That way any pressure will push the sealer into the hole instead of out of it.

_________________
66 Valiant, 225.
84 Van, 225.
71 Maxi-Van, 318
60 Valiant wagon, 225
87 Maxi-Van, 318 4spd

Normally all that has to be done to repair a seam leak is to clean area well, brush flux on area to be soldered, heat with a torch and sweat in solder. Then clean off flux residue, test for leak with compressed air, dry and paint over the repair.

Sometimes these old radiator tanks have become very thin from lack of changing coolant and or electrolysis, and can't be repaired reliably. Meaning sooner of later that thin metal will let go and piss coolant all over the place at the most inconvenient time.


So you need to ascertain if the tank became detached from radiator frame due to a crappy repair, or did the tank side wall split at a weak spot. Split repair may be accomplished by soldering on a copper patch over the split large enough to span to stronger metal both sides of the split.

_________________
67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC

Fixed the leak with more silicone.. If it works then it's fine.. 30€ radiator so i don't really care about the expensive "do it right" route for this one.

I'll look in to it next year if i need to.

_________________