Radiator Needs Replacing

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Nov 13, 2006 | 10:32 PM

rkozaczka

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Radiator Needs Replacing

Good evening everyone. I had the wonderful surprise this weekend of all the coolant draining out of my radiator onto my driveway. I removed the radiator this evening and ran some water through it and sure enough, it's leaking on one of the seams. Definetly time for a replacement.

Where is the best place to find a new replacement part? I looked online at the common stores (Napa, Advanced Auto, AutoZone, etc.) and I think Advanced Auto had the best price which was around $125. Can anyone suggest anywhere else? I have a 1993 with the 4.9; 6 cyl; manual transmission w/AC.

Any other info or tips would be appreciated. I am pretty new to DIY but I am always trying to learn. Thank you in advance!

And just because I haven't posted much, here is what i'm trying to fix: http://rob.kozaczka.us/CarWeb/truck

So that I can park this one for the winter: http://rob.kozaczka.us/CarWeb/lexus.html

Nov 14, 2006 | 07:10 AM

frederic

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From: New Jersey

93. Assuming the factory radiator is there, it's an aluminum core with plastic side tanks. Mines leaked a few times over the years, and I don't think this is uncommon. The first time I gently pried the tabs on the core that hold the side tanks on, carefully cleaned the edges of the tanks and the core and reglued them together, then bent the tabs back. Then it sprung a leak in one of the cross tubes which I soldered using a benz-o-matic oxygen/mapp torch I got at Ace hardware, with some "durafix" rods. Took a few minutes and the radiator hasn't leaked at that spot ever again. Though, a few more leaks sprung up years later and I replaced it 2-3 years ago with a junkyard unit out of a 95 F350 that had a 460 engine. Radiator fits just fine even though my engine is a 351W. This one hasn't leaked yet, and the junkyard clipped me for $20.

Nov 14, 2006 | 08:36 PM

rkozaczka

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Well, the new radiator is in. I ended up picking it up at Napa because they had it in stock. Truck seems to be running well now too. I didn't have any heat for awhile but it finally kicked on after about 30 minutes.

My temp gauge is reading almost as hot as it could be. There is plenty of coolant in the system and i don't see any leaks. Could i have a bad sensor? I knew there was a problem with the old radiator because i noticed it was running hot. When i got home, I turned the truck off and the coolant started coming out of the old radiator and i had a little smoke.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Nov 14, 2006 | 08:59 PM

lv2race

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From: The OC

I bet your thermostat is not working properly. Anytime I do major work on the cooling system, I replace my thermostat and gasket and do a flush of the system, including the heater core. Drain your system and replace the thermostat and hope the $10 spent takes care of the problem. If you have new coolant, capture it and reuse it as well. If you still have a high heat reading, check for codes.

Nov 14, 2006 | 09:09 PM

frederic

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From: New Jersey

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkozaczka

30 minutes? my crewcab gives heat in about 2-3 minutes. Replace your thermostat. A stuck-closed thermostat will prevent heated coolant from reaching the radiator, as well as the heater core.

You may have a bad sensor but don't worry about that for now. Replace the thermostat and see if both issues go away.

Also, you may have a clog in the system. When I finally replaced my radiator I had a huge chunk of brittle clumpy crud fall out of the lower radiator hose, even though it was less than a year old. Something disintegrated and was collecting in the hose, reducing coolant flow.

I'd drain the system again into the old coolant bottles or a pail, and replace the t-stat and check the lower hose for debris collection. Then refill with a funnel.

BTW, I *always* put a coffee filter into the funnel when pouring in used coolant, even if it's a day or two old. BEcause anything that did come out of the draincock (other than coolant) would have sunk in the container you put the coolant in. This way, that crud doesn't get back in.

Pour slow!

Nov 14, 2006 | 09:31 PM

rkozaczka

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Quote:

Originally Posted by frederic

I've never had any trouble with heat until i did this swap. I will try the t-stat and draining the system again. The coolant in the old system was way over due for replacing so I wouldn't be surprised if there was some crud left over.

Just to clarify, I should drain the system (filter it), remove the lower hose and inspect, then put the coolant back in that I drained? I used all new coolant this evening so it's only a couple hours old.

I guess i have a weekend project!

Nov 14, 2006 | 09:40 PM

lv2race

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From: The OC

Hook a hose up to one the heater core hoses and flush the heater core. Tubes are small and can trap gunk. Remove the t-stat, replace the spout and tighten to snug, remove the upper and lower hoses at the radiator and flush water through the upper hose and watch it flow out the lower hose until clear. Filter fluid when you put it back into the radiator.