Sup HT...

Two days ago, I parked my Teg and noticed that smoke or steam was coming from my hood. I looked and noticed it was only coming from above the radiator, nowhere near the engine. Nothing else looked peculiar.

Yesterday I saw smoke again, and saw green coolant on this part of the radiator:


I don't know if it's a problem with the radiator or the hoses. There's no coolant anywhere else in the engine bay.

My question is: I'm scheduled for 3 runs this Sunday. If I use the stop leak stuff at Pep Boys/Kragen, will it temporarily fix my problem... well enough for me to go to the dyno?

5 mins to get there, 3 runs, and 5 mins to go home, then I'd store my car until I get a new radiator.

 

Keep in mind what I am going to tell you is some 10 yr old. But the last time I knew someone to use the stop leak stuff was in a VW rabbit or jetta or what ever the F it was. The stuff work so well it plugged up some of the coolant passages and overheated the car every time you drove it for more than a few min.

My advise would be to avoid it unless you are out in the desert with no other option...... same for the tire goo stuff. The left over crap that doesn't plug the hole in the tire just settles on the inside of the tire and throws the balance all off.

Do you know a buddy with a pressure tester that you can hook to your radiator to find the leak???

 

Check you Radiator cap how does it look???

 

loook for cracks. i have a nice 2" one (hairline) in mine, and it is just spitting out occasionally... i used the sealant and it seems to be working out ok...just keep a few bottles of water in your car with you and keep an eye on that temp. you may have to rev it at stop lights (meaning not enough fluid to keep circulating, i.e. add more water). as long as you aren't overheating dont sweat it, and replace it when you can.

 

I had the exact same thing happen to my radiator, shitty design if you ask me, the leak comes from where the plastic top-piece joins the alluminium body of the radiator. I think you should be alright for the dyno...just make sure you top off the radiator and overflow tank before running and keep it full...and go ahead and invest in a PWR as soon as possible...IMO

 

i'm on my third radiator...it happens

 

yep.. replaced a radiator on each of my teggies too!
get an all metal one..or expect to replace it again!!

 

so does everyone think i should be fine driving to the dyno Sunday?

also, should i use stop leak as a temporary fix? i'm getting a new radiator tuesday.

 

personally i would not but a car on a dyno when any fluid is leaking.

 

anyone else? i just let it idle for 15 mins today... no overheating, went to normal operating temp

 

I had that problem before and hamering the tabs down with a screw driver was a temporary fix.

 

"The stuff work so well it plugged up some of the coolant passages and overheated the car every time you drove it for more than a few min."

I used that on my pos beater..and the SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME!! i ended up getting a new motor

 

We used that stuff from pep boys on my sister car and its still holding up good