Leaking Radiator

[Brakers]

Hi there all you sun worshipers,
I’m at the moment in Spain at Castalla I’ve just noticed a small leak on my radiator, it dripping every Preston Guild “Now there’s a saying I’ve not used in a long time”
Anyway it’s so slow I was thinking of getting something like Rad Weld, or Bars Leak, is there an equivalent product out here and if so what sort of shops sell it, I assume they have motor assesories shops or not as the case may be. Now I know all the short cuts, like eggs and even sh*t, in the header, but I would rather find a product than experiment.
Many Thanks Tony

 

[wanderer]

Are you sure it’s the radiator thought I had a rad leak turned out to be a poorly fitted new windscreen leaking onto the noise insulation material in the engine bay and then dripping from the rad. is it using any water??

 

[daveandsan]

Have you pressurised the system to check how bad the leak is?

 

[Brakers]

Hi there wanderer Yes it’s definitely the rad yes but very little it’s just above the min on the header tank and when I left for Spain half way through January it was on the maximum, now I’ve noticed it I’ll keep an eye on it more often, it’s such a small leak at the moment I though something like Rad Weld would see me good till I get back to the Uk in April.

 

[Brakers]

Have you pressurised the system to check how bad the leak is?

Yes I’ve run the engine to operation temp and the dripping is so far apart but it will not get any better will it. Many thanks Tony

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[gus-lopez]

K.seal. would be best. You can get it in spain although not everywhere & far more expensive than the Uk but it does the job.
Broken Link Removed

Should be able to find some car spares place selling it around Alicante.

 

[SIFTA SAM]

Yes I’ve run the engine to operation temp and the dripping is so far apart but it will not get any better will it. Many thanks Tony

Should be OK until at least 2032?

 

[rosalan]

Why not consider getting it repaired in Spain? Their rates are much cheaper than in the UK and you will not have to spend relaxing time checking it has not got worse. Under pressure it can come out in a fine spray not leaving a puddle. Bottom line, it will not mend itself, so any rad weld treatment is only spending money not fixing the problem.

 

[Emmit]

Alicante has an Alcampo supermarket. (others are available)
I'd be smacked of gob if they did not sell something.

 

[ChrisL]

Be careful, i had the head crack on my car last year because of a radiator issue, it ended up costing over £900 to put right. Better to get it fixed properly at the first opportunity, it will probably save you money in the long term.

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[Brakers]

Why not consider getting it repaired in Spain? Their rates are much cheaper than in the UK and you will not have to spend relaxing time checking it has not got worse.

Hi rosalan I had thought about that, it will probably mean a new or refurbished radiator, the only thing with that is if the warranty on the rad should there be a problem, but I might rethink that. Thanks Tony

 

[hymerman]

Be careful, I have a small leak in a mini I own , thought the same as you but my local trusted garage advised against using stuff like radweld as could ruin the water pump etc.

 

[Vipar]

Get it done in Spain. If it has one leak another could appear. Cheaper in the long run. Better than sitting on the side of the road with steam blowing out of the rad waiting for the breakdown man. “You know it makes sense “

 

[PeteH]

Back in the 1940`s My Dad used Porridge!. (along with the sawdust in the rear axle). On a serious note there was a product that looked a lot like "Blue Tack" you moulded it and squeezed it into the radiator fins, when it went off you had a sealed rad. Obviously it was only a "get by" as you also lost cooling volume. Don`t know if it is still about?.

 

[Neil Bedwin]

Father in law fixed his 1933 Rolls Royce radiator with araldite! It lasted years and is still on the radiator.....

Wouldn't recommend it though. Get the radiator replaced.....you can get them new for £40 on eBay. Not worth the worry for that price. (assuming it's a Ducato based engine)

edit: Your's may be the 3.0l diesel so £86

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[Podney]

Have you tried bubble gum?

 

[Neil Bedwin]

Have you tried bubble gum?

Used that when water started running in through a shrunken windscreen seal on my old Nissan Patrol. It worked and got us home dry despite the rain. However the next day was sunny and the bubblegum had melted and dripped all over the dash!

 

[rosalan]

Hi rosalan I had thought about that, it will probably mean a new or refurbished radiator, the only thing with that is if the warranty on the rad should there be a problem, but I might rethink that. Thanks Tony

A quick phone call to the dealers could resolve the warranty problem. After all if it is under warranty I am sure the dealer would prefer paying for a rad rather than a new head etc. Good luck!

 

[Spriddler]

Be careful, I have a small leak in a mini I own , thought the same as you but my local trusted garage advised against using stuff like radweld as could ruin the water pump etc.

I used Radweld for a leak in my Citroen Xantia car rad and it gummed up my heater matrix good 'n proper. Ruddy expensive to have it replaced by an independent Citroen specialist. Huge labour cost as the upper and lower dashboard, parcel tray, glove pocket, centre console and no end of other stuff had to come out. Won't use it again.
I'm assuming that because modern vehicles, (as opposed to those of 60+ years ago when these rad sealants were introduced), have sensors in the cooling system it's not a good idea to coat them with gloop even though they don't have moving parts.

 

[Brakers]

Have you tried bubble gum?
No I haven’t as I’ve very little teeth to chew the gum with LOL

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[Brakers]

Hi everyone
I’ve tried to get it booked in with some of the main dealers in the area, with a very helpful Spanish guy, but at the moment the earliest they could look at it was next Wednesday, I’ve decided I’m not prepared to wait around that length of time, so what I intend to do is , if I find something like rad weld, I will use that and travel on my way and when reaching towns on route see if they can accommodate me at a reasonable time frame.
The worst case scenario is I end up loosing all the water and being stuck somewhere I would rather not be, and then getting towed to a place where I would have no choice but to wait for the repair, but that’s a chance I’m prepared to take.
anyway thanks for your input.
Best Wishes Tony

 

[Spriddler]

The worst case scenario is I end up loosing all the water and being stuck somewhere ......

I'm stating the obvious but use minor roads not motorways or fast dual carriageways because with the fairly slow leak that you've described you don't need to run out if you stop and check it frequently and you'll soon get a feel for how often you need to top it up.
Again obvious, but let the rad cool for 5 mins and put a towel over the filler when you loosen it. There shouldn't be too much pressure after a 5 min or so wait as it will have reduced via the leak hole.

 

[Brakers]

Again obvious, but let the rad cool for 5 mins and put a towel over the filler when you loosen it. There shouldn't be too much pressure after a 5 min or so wait as it will have reduced via the leak hole.

Hi Spriddler good advice, I’ll keep that in mind, the last thing I want to do is end up in hospital with third degree burns. Best Wishes Tony

 

[Spriddler]

Hi Spriddler good advice, I’ll keep that in mind, the last thing I want to do is end up in hospital with third degree burns. Best Wishes Tony

All past experience in an 850cc Mini in my impecunious youth going on hols to Cornwall, c290 miles - five of us and a dog plus pushchairs, buckets, spades, shrimp nets, wellies, windbreaks, clothes............I knew the best places to stop and top up en route. To slow the overheating I used to have the heater full on (in August!) and I always knew when the water was getting low as the heater went cold. Happy daze.

 

[DJT]

I would advise that once you have removed the cap then run the engine while adding water to the cooling system.
Imo fit a new or recon rad asap!
DJT

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[Geo]

I'm stating the obvious but use minor roads not motorways or fast dual carriageways because with the fairly slow leak that you've described you don't need to run out if you stop and check it frequently and you'll soon get a feel for how often you need to top it up.
Again obvious, but let the rad cool for 5 mins and put a towel over the filler when you loosen it. There shouldn't be too much pressure after a 5 min or so wait as it will have reduced via the leak hole.

Given your comments above
DO NOTHING but check before and after a short journey to properly asses leak if manageable pace your journy and get it fixed properly.
Modern Antifeezes and inhibitors dont like having additive mixed in take note of previous problems posted above and learn the easy way
If the leak is bigger than first thought WAIT and again have if fixed properly where you are.

 

[Brakers]

I would advise that once you have removed the cap then run the engine while adding water to the cooling system.
Imo fit a new or recon rad asap!

yes that’s worth a thought, I think that’s a good idea. Thanks DJT. Be Wishes Tony

 

[Brakers]

You know you lot always surprise me, the help I get from the people on this forum is priceless, and I for one would like to thank each and everyone who has helped me not only in this thread but all the other threads I’ve needed help or just sensible advice . Thanks Everyone Best Wishes Tony

 

[Spriddler]

Given your comments above
DO NOTHING but check before and after a short journey to properly asses leak if manageable pace your journy and get it fixed properly.
Modern Antifeezes and inhibitors dont like having additive mixed in take note of previous problems posted above and learn the easy way
If the leak is bigger than first thought WAIT and again have if fixed properly where you are.

I'm confused. Out of interest to what were you referring by 'DO NOTHING'? I assume you have quoted the wrong post as I also suggested to just check and assess the leak rate.
Obviously it must be fixed properly, but my suggestion addressed Tony's wish to push on and not wait a week for a garage which was the earliest appointment he could get.

 

[Geo]

Ref: adding stop leak or other compounds

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