Hello everyone! I have a question. I have a cracked radiator up by the filler neck. Should I do an aluminum one or just an oem replacement? What is you preference for a daily driver none turbo. It isn't anything special of a car.

 

buy a new one from any auto parts store. will be more than sufficient. make sure you get all the air bled out.

 

Yup, I agree.

I bought one from radiator barn but I have a small leak for the hose attatched to the bottom. However, I think it is because I used Autozone hoses and not OEM. But, it only leaks during the winter and I have to add maybe 2 inches of coolant to the overflow tank ever couple weeks or so.

 

Thanks. That is what I ended up doing. Just gotta bleed the air out. How long do you have to leave the bleeder valve open.

 

you will need to open the bleed valve after you have filled the radiator, then run the engine. get it up to operating temp so the thermostat opens, then finish filling the radiator. as you are filling it, monitor the bleeder, and once only coolant is coming out, close it off. finish filling the rad and put the cap on it once it's full. make certain that you have coolant in the overflow tank so that the system doesn't draw in air when the engine cools. check the overflow tank later or next day after it has cooled all the way down and top off the tank.

 

Just a quick correction on that, you never top off the reservoir tank. You fill it to the mark, it's usually halfway or so.

Also, to elaborate on the bleeder screw, the proper way to refill coolant is to open the bleeder screw before you add coolant, and what will happen is that coolant will start coming out along with air after you've added a decent amount of coolant. Wait until only coolant is coming out, then stop adding coolant and close the bleeder screw and continue adding coolant. Make sure you're adding coolant on flat level.

 

that's what i meant by top it off, to the full mark. if he doesn't know that much he shouldn't be changing a radiator. i assumed he knew what i meant. you can open the bleed screw whenever you want, as long as the engine is still cold. once you warm it up and the level drops is when you need to have it open while filling the radiator.

 

You don't leave the bleeder valve open when the car is running.

Just like the other guy said, fill radiator until a steady stream comes out of the bleeder valve. Also, it would be a good idea to change the thermostat with an OEM one since you have everything apart anyways.

 

i use the failsafe thermos, those are awesome.

 

agree, used it on sis' car... it failed & car stayed cool all the time, wasting fuel

good thing it had a lifetime warranty; i just got a new one & installed it

if there's a leak, it won't hold pressure... it has a warranty, go and get a replacement!

ps: no one mentioned to run the heater on full blast so you can burp the air bubbles out of the heater core as well...

 

^ It leaks where the lower hose attaches to the radiator. I think the Autozone hose is slightly to big or something.

 

Yes I do know that much. Radiator is in and I let the system bleed all the air out. Wasn't too bad of a repair. Everything else on my car is a pain! Thanks for the help!