Well, long story short. I have a hairline crack in the top of my radiator. Havent the slightest clue how it got there, but i'm sure its related to clearance issues between the radiator and the hood (eg radiator's a lil tall). My first thought was JB weld for a temp fix, but i'm not sure how that'll work on the plastic or under pressure. I've already applied a few layers and baked em on pretty good. How long do you guys think i have before it leaks again? I need to drive about 15-20 mins to the junkyard where i can get another radiator, but i dont wanna overheat and blow up my motor. TIA

 

Here is a pic of the crack.

 

Just use some JB Weld on it, I think it will work with plastic. Then go get your new radiator.

 

We'll know soon enuff. I'm tryin to give it as much time to cure under the heatlamp as possible but i've got plans for this morning that cant be cancelled, so i'm leavin soon. I'll keep yall posted

 

the jb weld will hold fine for a 20 minute drive, but you don't wanna keep in in there forever, as it will always leak a little.

all plastic endtanked radiators break eventually, its just a matter of time.

look for a metal endtanked one.

 

I had a hairline crack in my radiator just like that.

I tried:

Plastic Epoxy

Plastic Weld

JB Weld

Plastic Radiator End Tank Repair Kit

None of them worked! None!

The plastic weld worked the best....it held for about an hour before it started leaking out at the seam.

 

Couldn't give you a specific brand but what about the crap that you actually run through your rad lines and it seals from the inside?

never used it just considered it when I cracked mine so I have no idea how effective it would be, personally I would be a little reluctant to put gunk into my radiator but ?

 

it is VERY VERY easy to fix cracks in the plastic on radiators. Take your soldering iron and get it really hot, then melt it back together. With a crack (sorry had to fix alot more holes then cracks, from the pegs on the bottom breaking off) take and melt in the middle of the crack really deep, like maybe two passes then melt back the two bumps you just made on both sides of the crack.