SteveRosenow
Active Member
- Joined
- June 25, 2019
- Messages
- 64
- Reaction score
- 7
- City, State
- Shelton, Washington
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 1996 Ford Explorer XLT
So I picked up a new radiator today, as part of a warranty replacement through O'Reilly. After installing the transmission cooler lines and filling the radiator with 50/50 coolant, I tested the connections and for leaks and sure enough, I ended up with a whopper of a leak out of the top fitting. It is enough to create a steady stream of transmission fluid that leaks both down the side of the radiator and down the right hand side of the fan shroud. It also contacts the fan itself and I have a nice stain of Mercon V on the underside of my hood and all over my freshly-detailed engine bay.
I noted in one YT video that these fittings should be installed with PTFE thread tape, and to be sure the new radiator did come with two brand new fittings, in the event that the ones installed on the radiator do not fit my cooler lines.
This is my only rig, and with the severity of the leak I cannot afford to drive it the nine miles to my work (O'Reilly Auto) to have this second radiator warranty-exchanged.
What could fix this leak besides a second warranty exchange?
I noted in one YT video that these fittings should be installed with PTFE thread tape, and to be sure the new radiator did come with two brand new fittings, in the event that the ones installed on the radiator do not fit my cooler lines.
This is my only rig, and with the severity of the leak I cannot afford to drive it the nine miles to my work (O'Reilly Auto) to have this second radiator warranty-exchanged.
What could fix this leak besides a second warranty exchange?