I lived with a leaking radiator for several months, thinking it could be a hose or something else.  I finally got around to replacing it which solved the problem.  It's hard to believe it was the original radiator as that is a long time for them to last.  The lower clamps were all frozen and had to be cut off; the transmission cooling lines and lower large rubber hose clamps.  

 

The leak was on the side where the cap screws in.  The problem of diagnosing it was that I could not find a mechanic with a pressure tester.  I got confirmation from a friend after running car for a while.

Edited January 1, 20224 yr by ThosL

Got your moneys worth out of that one.

13 hours ago, ThosL said:

The problem of diagnosing it was that I could not find a mechanic with a pressure tester.

Rent one!  thats what we did
stupid easy to pressure test - dont even have to run the engine..

I checked with both Auto Zone and Advance and neither had one to rent; just to buy, and I would only use it once if I bought one.

Plastic radiators have a useful lifespan of 8 years. After that they should be replaced. We are already seeing 2014's fail. Usually the upper radiator nipples get soft and shear away from the tank. Seems to be a shorter life with the new blue OAT coolant than the green stuff. There's obviously some chemistry going on between the plastic and the coolant and the heat cycling. 

Meanwhile my '69 GMC C2500 still has it's factory 4 row heavy duty radiator. Copper/brass FTW. 

GD

They don't make them like they use too!

12 hours ago, lmdew said:

They don't make them like they use too!

they dont make anything like they used to!

I remember they were so expensive that you would go to the junkyard to get them or have a radiator service place boil them out to get them to function better.

Edited January 3, 20224 yr by ThosL

On 1/1/2022 at 12:31 PM, ThosL said:

I checked with both Auto Zone and Advance and neither had one to rent; just to buy, and I would only use it once if I bought one.

i find that interesting, because we rented from Advance...
basicly, they way their system works, is you "pay" for the set as if purchasing.. but if you bring it back in XX number of days, you get your money back - or most of it anyway.
that way, if it does not come back, they are not out anything.

We checked All the vehicles when we rented.. found the problem with his car (bad hose - had a small split) and found the cap on mine was shot

Tool rental availability has been better at Auto Zone and they did not offer the pressure tester, and in the past some of their tools are not available.  I just checked with the local Advance Auto, so my bad, they have a multi part tool rental that is $265 that goes back on the card when you bring it back.  I assumed they would not have it because they have been a no go on brake tools, breaker bars, etc. in the past when Auto Zone is a green light.

2 hours ago, ThosL said:

I assumed they would not have it because they have been a no go on....

you know what happens when you assume, LOL

and yeah, that price sounds about right if memory serves..

Edited January 3, 20224 yr by heartless