rm56

My radiator has a crack in it. Is it necessary to take the fan off to remove it? I think you can just undo the cowling and move it towards the engine and then unhook and lift out the radiator. I;m planning on pulling it on my Christmas vacation and seeing if I can Marine Tex it. Thanks for any advice in advance.

mbb

A radiator is $100. Replace it.

Or repeat all the work again AND replace it.

Manuellabour247

You should have more than enough clearance once you move the shroud. And like said above, get a new one or have a professional shop repair it. A new one will not have the build up that yours currently has.

rm56

The radiator that is in was put in right after I bought the truck in 2006, it's only a few years old. The old one failed after I put a small camper on it. I was driving home and noticed it running hot. By the time I got in the driveway it was steaming and making that noise they make when they blow. I have priced a new one $150-190 depending on the store. I'm ASE trained so I don't need some shop to do it. I know who to change a radiator, the reason I asked that question about the fan is my service book says to buy a special 2 part fan wrench. If I have to I can remove the fan using my tools. And this close to Christmas I'm not real happy about spending $150 when I can find a small crack and seal it with Marine Tex. Thanks

rm56

[QUOTE=mbb;4430758]A radiator is $100. Replace it.

Or repeat all the work again AND replace it.[/QUOTE

Or find a small hair line crack, seal it, and spend that $150 on my family for Christmas instead of a new Chinese quality radiator.

mbb

Assuming you are repairing the plastic side tanks. They expand under pressure with temperature and crack gets wider. At normal temp pressure is 7 psig, its zero when you will fix it. Rigid adhesive wont hold in tension without reinforcement, enen if get enough contact area to take stress in shear.

Personally Id give it a slim chance of long term success. A flexible sealant will have better chance of sucess imo, but still Id only view it as short term patch, not permanent, even of it seems to work.

Manuellabour247

So why don't you put a full aluminum radiator in instead?

rm56

I see what you mean, marine tex is extremely hard like JB weld. I do not know yet where the crack is. It happened in a parking lot when I accidently hit a sign pole one dark raining morning. Even though I was only in first, the impact set off my air bags which almost broke my finger. The crack is on the passenger side and leaves a small puddle when I park.
I guess the best way is to just put in a new one. Thanks mbb.

rm56

Where can I find one?

Manuellabour247

I'll have to do some more research. I know my buddy bought a 3 core aluminum replacement a few years ago, but i don't remember from where. They will be more expensive, but so much nicer than that stocker.