PDA

View Full Version : Is there anything I can do with a broken radiator?


aricanderson
06-02-2002, 07:55 PM
I just replaced my radiator and I was wondering if there is anything I can do with it?  The only thing that is wrong with it is that it has a small crack on the right top.  Is there any way that it can be used for anything or should I just throw it away.

thanks everybody

gh6o6
06-02-2002, 09:46 PM
welding is a beautiful thing......
ofcourse im not sure it can be welded

rotaryknight
06-02-2002, 09:50 PM
Depends where the crack is.  If it is on the fins you are SOL...fins cannot be welded.  You can try some stop leak additives.  

If the crack in on the tanks you can try JB Weld.  That stuff is ghetto but works.

Jeff240sx
06-02-2002, 11:22 PM
Welding on a aluminum (?) tank is kinda dumb.  Aluminum... as I would imagine it is, cuz it will dissipate heat better, is a thin, weak, low heat tolerance metal.  Therefore, welding isn't an option.  
And as for fixes, you can braze, which is a low heat copper welding, or soldering.  I would go with solder.  I have soldered 3 holes in a friend's Integra radiator.  And even if it is on the fins, so what?  What would stop solder from mending it?  Solder is not something to put moving parts together with... like don't solder the muffler to the piping, but on a low movement, low heat place, it works wonders.
Also.. how long is the crack causing the leak?  If it's too long, the structure of the radiator face you're soldering will move too much, and the solder won't work in that case...
-Jeff

precision
06-03-2002, 06:04 AM
if its plastic epoxy it, if its brass solder it, if its the fins you can cut the fin and fold it a couple of times.

HippoSleek
06-03-2002, 07:08 AM
You can get a top tank redone (don't know what they use and not brave enough to try to fix something that important on my own).

uiuc240
06-03-2002, 08:30 AM
Or you can pay for shipping and handling (I have to get a box) and you can have my radiator for free!  I just put a Koyo 2-row aluminum radiator in my 89 w/SR20DET...and now I have a perfectly good S13 KA radiator that I don't need.  It's not new or anything, but it doesn't leak, and it's never let me down.  Works good!  Let me know ([email protected]).

Eric

boosteds14
06-03-2002, 09:03 AM
put lots and lots of OATMEAL inthere . that should do the trick
<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'> &nbsp;j/k

geeaj
06-03-2002, 12:55 PM
NADs.....it can seal anything..or remove hair..LOL..jk

aricanderson
06-03-2002, 10:13 PM
thanks guys I'll try the oatmeal thing