Coolant leak when it turns cold.
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 94
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From: Ohio
Coolant leak when it turns cold.
I have a leak from the radiator when the weather turns cold (not a good thing since I have now moved to Canada!). It appears to be between the core and the "tanks" on the side of the radiator core. It is not real bad but a pain in the back side. My thought was to replace the radiator when it gets to be spring, and I looked on Bronco Graveyard and saw the same plastic/aluminum radiator. I would hate to replace the radiator only to have the same problem down the road. I also need to plan this well in advance to time it with my trips to the States to avoid the BS with customs here in Canada. Anyone else have this problem with the radiator, or have experience with the replacement? I have an '89 with a 300, manual trans, A/C.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 460
Likes: 1
From: Edmonton, Alberta
I had the same problem on my '88. When it hit -38C the winter before last, the rad started dripping a little. Bad news - it will never stop. I swapped one in out of a wrecked truck for $35. It was the same plastic / aluminum one. The solid aluminum ones were way out of my budget then. I have had no trouble with it since. According to the Haynes, there is an o-ring style gasket between the aluminum and plastic pieces. I believe that over time, vibration and whatnot cause the tanks to loosen enough that it starts to seep. If you are close to Moose Jaw, Sk, they have a good SGI Salvage yard there and if you talk to Dave he should be able to help you out with a good used rad that will bolt right in.
Woodler
Woodler
Woodler
Woodler
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
Well, that not good news, Which of these would be a better replacement for a 96 EB
http://www.partstrain.com/products/R....htm?sku=P1451
http://www.partstrain.com/products/R...html?sku=P1453
http://www.partstrain.com/products/R....htm?sku=P1451
http://www.partstrain.com/products/R...html?sku=P1453
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 95
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This style of rad does not like Canadian winters.If you have a good rad-shop close by ,they may be able to repair your rad.I have had them repaired but it seems that eventually,replacement is the sollution that works best.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,182
Likes: 12
From: Gateway to the West
Will_01_GT and dwoodler,
If the Bronco was originally equiped with the Supercool option, the radiator is the four core. Otherwise the two core was the standard radiator. The Supercool option was found most frequently on Broncos equipped twith the factory tow package. If you want to swap from one to the other plan on either finding the corresponding fan shroud to go with that radiator or not using the fan shroud at all. The shroud for the two-core will not work with the four core and vice versa.
I swapped the four core from my 92 into my 93 and found this out.
If the Bronco was originally equiped with the Supercool option, the radiator is the four core. Otherwise the two core was the standard radiator. The Supercool option was found most frequently on Broncos equipped twith the factory tow package. If you want to swap from one to the other plan on either finding the corresponding fan shroud to go with that radiator or not using the fan shroud at all. The shroud for the two-core will not work with the four core and vice versa.
I swapped the four core from my 92 into my 93 and found this out.
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 646
Likes: 3
From: Derbyshire, UK.
have a word with 1-800-radiator. I got an all brass 4-core with a lifetime warranty for a very good price - even with shipping to the UK.
Also, with the Aluminium & plastic ones, have you though of squeezing the tabs a little tighter that hold the plastic tanks on? I think the book says you set the jaws of a mole-wrench with a 5/16" drill bit as a guide. The tabs might have crept a little bit over the years so maybe re-squeezing them again would help close up any gaps in the gasket. CHECK THE DIMENSIONS I GAVE AS ITS FROM MEMORY - don't want you busting anything and then sending a B1 after me!
Also, with the Aluminium & plastic ones, have you though of squeezing the tabs a little tighter that hold the plastic tanks on? I think the book says you set the jaws of a mole-wrench with a 5/16" drill bit as a guide. The tabs might have crept a little bit over the years so maybe re-squeezing them again would help close up any gaps in the gasket. CHECK THE DIMENSIONS I GAVE AS ITS FROM MEMORY - don't want you busting anything and then sending a B1 after me!
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), does Canada even have an Air Force! 
Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 49
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Having the same prob. with leaking between the plastic/alum. on my 95 with super cool. A slow leak but enuf that I smell coolant after Ive driven around a bit. Was thinking of putting in some stop leak stuff? thoughts? Havent costed rads up here, may have to do that in the new year.
