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Pesky radiator leak...can't decide what to do
I've got a '90 Mazda Protege (173K miles) and it's still in
amazingly good condition, and runs like it did when one- day old. It's been very well maintained all these years, which is why I still have it. Here's the deal: I put in a new after-market radiator last July; last month I noticed a rather slow leak in the fins somewhere. This radiator has a two-year warranty I think (still have the paperwork somewhere), but I can't decide whether to just pull the thing and take it back to collect on the warranty (assuming they don't try to dance about something), or just pour a little of the stop-leak stuff in and hope it seals it. It's been many years since I used one of these products, and it seemed at the time to gunk up the radiator some. What would you guys do? Thanks! -- O.M. |
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#2
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Pesky radiator leak...can't decide what to do
Replaced the radiator on my accord last summer - had a shop to do it -
was busy at the time - took them 3 radiators before they got one that did not leak - Hecho in Mexico - Bumper to Bumper product - replace it cause if you overheat an aluminum block you will also probably warp the head - really hard to get a head gasket to stay on after the head gets warped - even if you have a very good machine shop "mill" the head. I would not take this risk. Oh - carry a couple of gallons of water with you in case your leak becomes bigger and you get caught on the road. |
#3
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Pesky radiator leak...can't decide what to do
butch burton wrote: > Replaced the radiator on my accord last summer - had a shop to do it - > was busy at the time - took them 3 radiators before they got one that > did not leak - Hecho in Mexico - Bumper to Bumper product - replace it > cause if you overheat an aluminum block you will also probably warp the > head - really hard to get a head gasket to stay on after the head gets > warped - even if you have a very good machine shop "mill" the head. I > would not take this risk. Oh - carry a couple of gallons of water with > you in case your leak becomes bigger and you get caught on the road. I know you'd like to save a little work, but forget it. Go for the replacement ASAP. A defect is a defect. It won't get better. You will feel better and canmove on to the next thing. |
#4
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Pesky radiator leak...can't decide what to do
"butch burton" > wrote in message oups.com... > Replaced the radiator on my accord last summer - had a shop to do it - > was busy at the time - took them 3 radiators before they got one that > did not leak - Hecho in Mexico - Bumper to Bumper product - replace it > cause if you overheat an aluminum block you will also probably warp the > head - really hard to get a head gasket to stay on after the head gets > warped - even if you have a very good machine shop "mill" the head. I > would not take this risk. Oh - carry a couple of gallons of water with > you in case your leak becomes bigger and you get caught on the road. I agree with you, Butch.. Get another one. |
#5
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Pesky radiator leak...can't decide what to do
> wrote in message ups.com... > I've got a '90 Mazda Protege (173K miles) and it's still in > amazingly good condition, and runs like it did when one- > day old. It's been very well maintained all these years, > which is why I still have it. Here's the deal: I put in a > new after-market radiator last July; last month I noticed > a rather slow leak in the fins somewhere. This radiator > has a two-year warranty I think (still have the paperwork > somewhere), but I can't decide whether to just pull the > thing and take it back to collect on the warranty (assuming > they don't try to dance about something), or just pour a little > of the stop-leak stuff in and hope it seals it. It's been many > years since I used one of these products, and it seemed > at the time to gunk up the radiator some. What would > you guys do? Thanks! > > -- > O.M. > It's under warranty. Replace it. If the stop leak doesn't work, then you've given the shop a reason to void the warranty and you'll have to buy yourself another radiator. The stop leak stuff isn't a great idea to use. If it doesn't stop the leak in your radiator it will eventually find some place to solidify and whether it's in the radiator or engine, it's blocking flow either way. -Bruce |
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Pesky radiator leak...can't decide what to do
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#7
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Pesky radiator leak...can't decide what to do
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#8
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Pesky radiator leak...can't decide what to do
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#10
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Pesky radiator leak...can't decide what to do
wrote:
> > SoCalMike wrote: > > wrote: > > > I've got a '90 Mazda Protege (173K miles) and it's still in > > > amazingly good condition, and runs like it did when one- > > > day old. It's been very well maintained all these years, > > > which is why I still have it. Here's the deal: I put in a > > > new after-market radiator last July; last month I noticed > > > a rather slow leak in the fins somewhere. This radiator > > > has a two-year warranty I think (still have the paperwork > > > somewhere), but I can't decide whether to just pull the > > > thing and take it back to collect on the warranty (assuming > > > they don't try to dance about something), or just pour a little > > > of the stop-leak stuff in and hope it seals it. > > > > return it. if you use stopleak and it doesnt work perfectly and forever, > > youve just invalidated the warranty. if they dick you around about the > > warranty, then do whatcha like. > > Yep, I'm in agreement with you guys. I'm gonna pull it and take > it back. If they try to dance, I'll just politely leave with it and > buy one > somewhere else....and send a letter to headquarters because > I have done nothing to void the warranty. BTW, does Prestone > only sell 50/50 now (at roughly the same price per gallon as they > used to sell 100% before)? I was at K-Mart recently and that's > all I saw. Great gig they've got, i.e. sell half-gallon of anti-freeze > mixed with an equal part water, and keep the price the same! > Thanks! > > -- > O.M. You have to watch those sneaky SOB's and their mixed junk! You 'cannot' use that pre-mix to fill up a system after a water flush if you live anywhere that goes below -25F. It is only good for topping up a properly filled up system. I see folks buying it and killing their engines/heater cores, etc.... When you flush a system, normally close to 40% of the water is still trapped in the heater core and engine block. You then need to add the correct percentage of pure coolant first and then top it up with water. On my Jeep that takes 12 quarts to fill, I add 6 of pure coolant first, then water. Normally I can only get another 2 quarts or so to go in before it is full. That means 4 quarts of water was left inside things. Mike 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view! Aug./05 http://www.imagestation.com/album/in...?id=2120343242 (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page) |
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