1992 4x4 sprung a leak

[Christobal65]

yesterday morning i walked out to the exploder and noticed a small puddle of coolent sitting under the very front of it. So i did some investigating and it appeared that the leak is coming from where the plastic end tank connects to the alum core. So heres the question will bars leak stop this leak or am i SOL and need a new radiatior?

 

[Nikola]

In my opinion you don't have to change radiator. I have same problem in cold days few years, from the moment when I start to use Ford coolant with pink color, because here in Europe Ford stoped to have coolant with green or red color. Leaking is stoped when engine is started to heat, also it is no any leaking during the other season, only in very cold winter days, Maybe you have same problem.

 

[Vanquish502]

Take a pair of pliers and clam the aluminum tabs that wrap around the plastic tighter. Thats how I fixed mine. Then clean off all the coolant so after a drive you can check if its still leaking.

This only applies if its at the top or bottom. If its in the middle you probably need a new rad.

 

[JDraper]

Don't put stop leak in your radiator. It will gunk up your cooling system as well as the radiator and cause more problems than just a bad radiator. You're better off either crimping the tabs down as suggested above, or, if that doesn't work, replace the radiator.

 

[Darrman]

Yeah, do not use that crap, I had to completly rebuild my '91's cooling system because the prev owner dumped some in there.