Noticed radiator fluid on driveway from passenger side radiator.

Opened hood after long drive and stream of water approximately 1.5m shooting from top of radiator.

Would be thankful for anyone who knows best approach to situation.


Stream was coming up from between where two hoses reach radiator.

 

Typically the plastic side tank fails due to old age. Unfortunately the solution is a new radiator. (the plastic side tank has degraded to the point of failure/leaking and it's not reasonable to attempt to replace just the side tank on a radiator core of that age)

 

A little confused: the leak is out of the top of the radiator. Unless you mean the radiator has a component internal to the radiator? It's not coming out of the plastic side tank where you add fluid.

The radiator is less than five years old.

 

The radiator has an aluminum core with plastic side tanks that are crimped onto the core. If it leaks from the plastic or the aluminum - replace the radiator. With hoses that old it could be leaking from a pinhole in a hose and spraying wherever. Where is the leak coming from ?

 

Thanks Hoonk. The pinhole leak is coming out of the top part of the radiator (side tank), on the flat part between hoses; def not a hose leak.

Can I find a tiny screw and set it in there, or possibly JB Weld? Or better to leave and just add fluid as needed? Unfortunately not in position to get new radiator.

 

The plastic is cracked or degraded to the point of a leak forming. If you "set a tiny screw in there" I'd bet the plastic is brittle and will simply break apart. (=bigger leak) The cooling system is under up to 15 psi (or more) of pressure - Any sort of fix other than a replacement part will be at best temporary and at worst give you a false sense of security - you will think everything is ok - then the radiator bursts and before you know it - you have a blown head gasket. After that you will be finding another car to drive since the cost to repair the damage will be way more than the car is worth.

It's possible that with a cooling system/car/engine that old you already have a damaged head gasket - and there is extra pressure in the cooling system that has created the leak.

 

+1 to Hoonk's comment. the radiator will eventually fail even if you do some near term stop leak - its the seam that is giving way after 25 years...

 

Yeah, I'm surprised I wanted to believe so bad that it would be alright. Luckily a brother-in-law has stepped in for parts for new radiator, hoses and thermostat. Will order those, and look for someone to do it. Thanks.