Radiator Leak on top Plastic Tank

[RAMd®d]

I could've repaired the radiator but I've always replaced them entirely.

it is cheaper in the long run to buy another radiator.

Cheap insurance.

[mrbigstuff]

Oh, one thing I will add that I have always found to be excellent preventative maintenance is to have the radiator professionally flushed with pressure. This is difficult to do in practice, as no one wants to remove a functioning radiator, but it will probably add years to the life of a radiator. And, the OEM radiators are generally much better than the replacements (unless you buy OEM from the dealer but who does that?)

I had a problem with an old Honda Goldwing running extremely hot; when I narrowed it down to the radiator, I had the thing flushed and it worked fine after that.

[Robert M]

MrB,

Absolutely. All but one of the cars I've owned were used and already higher mileage. So, when it came to the radiator, I don't know what the previous owners did for maintenance. However, once the vehicles came into my hands, it was always a professional flush with pressure. Always. Unfortunately, by the time the vehicles got into my hands, there was already rust and crap in the radiator to the point that all the flushing in the world wasn't going to get it all out. And, that's not taking into account all of the rust and crap in the lines going to and from the radiator.

Now that I have a brand-new car, it will be properly flushed from day one. That way, I don't have to deal with the disaster that nailed my '96 Jeep Cherokee. The radiator went last year and I had it replaced with brand-new OEM. However, even after five power flushes, there was still an incredible amount of rust and crap in the cooling system lines. I only had the car for 2.5 years and my brother a few years before me. I've no doubt in my mind the person who owned it before my brother did not maintain the cooling system properly. Even cruddy maintenance would've gotten rid of the majority of that crap.

The cooling system of the Jeep was never the same after I had the radiator replaced. Three mechanics checked it out afterwards and said it was fine but I know it absolutely wasn't working as well as before the radiator was replaced. It's one of the reasons I'm glad I no longer have the Jeep.

Robert

[RAMd®d]

Unfortunately, by the time the vehicles got into my hands, there was already rust and crap in the radiator to the point that all the flushing in the world wasn't going to get it all out. And, that's not taking into account all of the rust and crap in the lines going to and from the radiator.

Yes, and sometimes pressure flushing damages those older radiators and just about any repairing is a waste of money.

At the first sign of trouble, even minor overheating, a new radiator and hoses, along with flush the block, etc, is in order.

Also, the heater core bears watching. If the radiator is backed up or in bad shape, the heater core could be at risk. In some cars, that can be a nasty leak.

[mikebw]

I once fixed a hole in the top of my metal radiator with a patch of metal and some JB Weld. Worked fine for years.