Coolant leak, only when fan is installed

[atistang]

I just got my explorer legal a few days ago, so at work before i left last night i got under it with it running looking for leaks. I notices it had a steady drip of coolant coming from the fan shroud. So today i removed the fan and shroud and i can't tell if it is the radiator or the side tank seals leaking because coolant is everywhere. So i sprayed everything off with water, then dried it with the air compressor. Then i ran it without the fan (running the heat full blast was enough to keep it from over heating while just idling). after running for almost an hour, it didn't leak a drop. I put the fan back on and let it run for 3 mins and there is a puddle under it.

so i shut it off, take the bolts out of the fan shroud and move it forward, the whole radiator is wet. Apparently it is such a slight leak that without the fan pulling it doesn't leak. It doesn't really make sense but thats all i can figure. so christmas day i get to pull the rad out and pressure test it. Oh what a way to spend christmas day lol

 

[Dando]

Same thing with my sons 93 xlt. I just replaced the radiator. Local place was about $120 for the radiator and it took only about 30-45 min. to change, very easy. I did a flush also, figured with 173,000 it probably needed it!

 

[atistang]

Same thing with my sons 93 xlt. I just replaced the radiator. Local place was about $120 for the radiator and it took only about 30-45 min. to change, very easy. I did a flush also, figured with 173,000 it probably needed it!

my dad has had a lot of luck with soldering holes in aluminum radiators, so we are gonna do that, the radiator itself looks great, otherwise i would probably just replace it