found crack in my radiator! can i patch it?

[255-LS1]

Fellas,

Discovered my ute was leaking coolant so had a snoop around. Found the source, crack in drivers side end tank bit. Obviously it is worn out and a new radiator is probably on the cards. But can i patch it with anything for the time being and is it unsafe to drive with it like this?

Cheers

Pics:

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t96/s3080722/P1000875.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t96/s3080722/P1000882.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t96/s3080722/P1000878.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t96/s3080722/P1000878.jpg

[Spider]

Can you get a soldering iron in there?
Try melting the plastic sides together again as a temp fix till you get a new radiator.

[255-LS1]

possibly, ill have a look. ive got some loctite 406 thats pretty hard core shit but im not sure if it would seal...

[Desertws6]

Looking at the last 2 pics, it looks like vertical hairline cracks forming in the plastic tank. Some 2 part epoxy might work as a temporary fix if cleaned and scuffed up with some sand paper first. The only real fix is going to be a replacement.

I have had some good luck with this 2 part epoxy.
http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr117/bill__free/JBWeld.jpg
used this on the interior side of an aluminum water pump housing and it held like a champ.

Cheers,
Steve

[255-LS1]

yer i see them too desert, looks fatigued. cheers for the tip.

anyway ive cracked it, pulling it out now. hunt around tommorow for a newy. anyone know a good place in melbourne who will stock them. think just local nat rad or whatever

[mce]

This a very common fault vt to vy , dont mess around fit a new one , cheaper than a new engine

[VZMY06SS]

Give Holmart a call/email. They had VZ ones in stock not long ago. I'm not sure about other models though.

Steve

[SEMPER FI]

Holmart is selling VZ ones for around $225 !!

[HSV271]

Knead-it Autofix..... http://www.selleys.com.au/Selleys-Autofix-Knead-it/default.aspx.

[255-LS1]

cheers guys, yer its out now sitting on the bench so ill make some enquires tommorow. Whats required for the upgrade to the VZ radiator? What is the advantage? No reserve tank? Is it a straight drop in procedure?

[SEMPER FI]

I think there is a post in here ref VZ changeover as few people have done it !!

[255-LS1]

just searched for VZ rad conversion. too much trouble for me and its not a show car so meh header tank can stay. ill just get a replacement one.

cheers

[GMMAD]

cheers guys, yer its out now sitting on the bench so ill make some enquires tommorow. Whats required for the upgrade to the VZ radiator? What is the advantage? No reserve tank? Is it a straight drop in procedure?
no its not a straight swap
as said there is a thread somewhere
but from memory you need the VZ thermo fans and you have to mod the hoses too

[255-LS1]

yer cheers.

just checked, holmart - VX radiators for 230. sounds a goer, ill call them in the morning to see if in stock. might get some extras while im down there lol. *thinks HSV pedal kit, scuff plates, VY leather shifter haha*

[Sonnymad]

This a very common fault vt to vy , dont mess around fit a new one , cheaper than a new engine


I would take this mans advice as this is very so common,the reason they crack is,its a high stress area & over time the tanks become hard and dont have much flex left in them resulting in a crack when they do flex.GET A NEW ONE !


regards sonny

[SirNemesis]

Mine cracked in the same place. Don't bother trying to fix it, it will just crack again right next to the repair. Speaking for experience...

[255-LS1]

yer thanks all for the adivce, im def getting a newy tommorow. I was only considering patching it temp cos i wanted to use my car tonight but meh its not worth the risk so its up on ramps lol.

cheers

[RRossi]

Just have a look around when buying a radiator, you may get a thicker alloy core radiator for the same price as a non gen radiator, I had the same thing happen to mine, and I just whent out a bought one to fine I could have gotton a nice thick one , no harm in looking

[255-LS1]

getting a new header tank fitted to it, 100 bucks is better than 230. The rest of the radiator is in good condition so didn't see the need to replace the whole lot.

[SirNemesis]

I also investigated that option and it was suggested I avoid it. When header tank becomes brittle, the other one isn't far behind it.

[exwrx]

Instead of replacing it with the same plastic crap, has anyone investigated getting alloy end tanks welded in?

Or another alternative might be JustAlloyRadiators

http://www.alloyradiators.com.au/

$500 for alloy sounds ok, as I have changed mine twice and I am not stupid enough to go for a third :jester:

[VZMY06SS]

I put my PWR radiator in today, 55mm compared to the factory 35mm one. It was a bit of a squeeze to fit it in, but it's in. They are an awesome looking bit of gear, and hopefully the extra thickness will provide a little extra cooling come summer. Looking at the standard ones, the alloy ones look to be the go. Both of my end tanks were extremely brittle, with the cause of the leak being a small crack next to the mounting point on the end tank.

Steve

[255-LS1]

I also investigated that option and it was suggested I avoid it. When header tank becomes brittle, the other one isn't far behind it.

yer i thought about this too, but somehow convinced myself that the inlet tank cops the full temp and pressure brunt and the outlet not so much. my outlet tank didn't look fatigued at all really, no stressing etc. time will tell i guess. its in so meh we'll see. if it fails again ill just go alloy. main reason also i CBF drving to get the new one, mr radiator picked up repaired and dropped off done in an afternoon. cant ask for much more than that.

[Sonnymad]

getting a new header tank fitted to it, 100 bucks is better than 230. The rest of the radiator is in good condition so didn't see the need to replace the whole lot.


Get yourself another 100bucks + coolant + labour ready as i gurantee you the other tank will crack,the whole excersize is gonna cost you way over fitting a new one,i have seen way too mnay times...

[whitels1ss]

Get yourself another 100bucks + coolant + labour ready as i gurantee you the other tank will crack,the whole excersize is gonna cost you way over fitting a new one,i have seen way too mnay times...

Yes I did that last summer, one tank,.... put it back together and 3 months later the other end went, I reckon replace the other one at the same time as it will be just as brittle.

[Sonnymad]

Yes I did that last summer, one tank,.... put it back together and 3 months later the other end went, I reckon replace the other one at the same time as it will be just as brittle.


The problem with doing the other tank is,once both tanks are removed ,short time later the core leaks,BUY A NEW RADIATOR !

:)

[255-LS1]

LOL ok ok calm down ppl, ill see how it goes. You never learn if you dont learn it for yourself i think so time will tell. Watch this space lol. Realistically who the fuk would make radiator tanks out of plastic. WTF. Heat and pressure plastics two worst enamies. Tight ****s. All alloy next if / when this pops.

[SirNemesis]

I don't understand this whole 'calm down people' attitude. You posted a thread asking for advice, which you then ignored. It just isn't logical.

[255-LS1]

jokes mate. :)

[SSDVL!]

True bud, everyone is just trying to get you to save your money. I went through having a tank repaired suggested by a shonky radiator place. he told me he did both, 3mths later the left cracked and discovered that only one side had been done. point of the story is, do one side then guaranteed you will be up to doing the other. I ended up buying a new one from holden for $215 and fitted it myself. it is a great learning curb and you learn so much doing it yourself and becoming a home mechanic.

if you really want i have the drivers side tank you can have for free, just get someone to change it for you, thismight save you some money at least.

cheers ed

[255-LS1]

hey ed, yer i know everyone is try to help which is great and why this forum is so handy. But as you say sometimes you have to learn the hard way, and yep it is a great learning curve and learning about these vehicles. Having only worked on old holdens (which were smart enough to use all metal radiators) im a little sketchy around these new ones, but slowly learning.

Watch this space i guess lol.

Cheers

Cam

[DuffMan]

Don't know why anyone would bother fixing the end tanks when you can pick up a brand new genuine radiator for a smidge over $200. If you plan on keeping the car for a while and maybe doing a few track days then perhaps look into a PWR unit. Last I checked they were $957 including GST and postage.

[vyls1wa]

are the pws rads a straight forward fit? Apart from sqeezing it in there.

[Desertws6]

Trying to just do the tanks could prove to be a waste of time if the center core goes south as well, and they do!

Me and Mr. Murphy are mates, I know his laws all too well. :lol:

Cheers,
Steve

[255-LS1]

Me and Mr. Murphy are mates, I know his laws all too well. :lol:

Cheers,
Steve

ROFL. I hate MR Murphy. hes a **** of a bloke haha.

[SSDVL!]

Mate seriously save money and buy yourself a new radiator. If you cant afford to fit it than i will help you fit myself, i did mine and having never done it before i havent had any problems with since doing it 7mths ago. The offer is there, and next week i have a week off work. PM if your interested.

cheers ed

[255-LS1]

sorry guys i should have clarified.. thought i did but anyway. i got a new tank fitted prior to the stories coming through about other tanks and cores blowing. so time will tell i guess and ill learn the hard way. plus i did the labour myself, was a good experiance playing a the newer rigs.

thanks for the offer ed, your a good bloke.

cheers

[Stocky]

My VY2 radiator just started leaking. Seems 5 years / 100k is the life span. Will bite the bullet & follow the advice to replace the radiator. Unfortunately budget does not allow for alloy replacement.

Cheers


Stocky

[Devil CV8]

My 2002 VY series 1 SS radiator is still going fine. Think its around 150,000km now.(not sure as I rarely drive it, it's the wife's to drive now)