Radiator overheated
#1
Rookie
Thread Starter
Radiator overheated
It is record hot day in Hong Kong and my LS430 got overheated. After the engine cooled down, I poured water into the half emptied radiator and noticed that there was a tiny hole of around 1/10 of an inch at the neck just a inch or two below the radiator cap where water can escape. I believe this is the reason why the car overheated.
Can anyone advise how this can be fixed without replacing the entire radiator? Or is it better to replace the entire radiator? Also the Master Warning Light, Malfunction indicator lamp and TRC lights are all on. Will they turn off automatically after the hole is fixed or I have to reset them somewhere? Any advice will be welcomed. Thanks.
Can anyone advise how this can be fixed without replacing the entire radiator? Or is it better to replace the entire radiator? Also the Master Warning Light, Malfunction indicator lamp and TRC lights are all on. Will they turn off automatically after the hole is fixed or I have to reset them somewhere? Any advice will be welcomed. Thanks.
#2
Radiators are both cheap and easy to install. I would change the oil in case it got too hot. There is probably some heat resistant epoxy you could use until the new radiator arrived. I don't know about the lights.
#4
Pole Position
Replace the whole radiator. The neck is where they leak. They are made of aluminum and plastic. Don't mess around trying to repair it.
#5
Rookie
Thread Starter
Replace the whole radiator. The neck is where they leak. They are made of aluminum and plastic. Don't mess around trying to repair it.
Amazon.com: Denso 221-4100 Radiator: Automotive
Amazon.com: Denso 221-4100 Radiator: Automotive
#6
Pole Position
Possibly. You overheated because coolant was too low. Under closed system pressure, coolant has a higher boiling point. Any hole in the system lowers the system pressure and hence the boiling point. If it's the plastic neck, you could try cleaning the hole (crack) and applying some high heat resistant epoxy glue. Note that it's not just the heat but also the pressure in the system that may force the glue to fail. I'd research ways to best patch it before doing anything.
#7
Rookie
Thread Starter
Possibly. You overheated because coolant was too low. Under closed system pressure, coolant has a higher boiling point. Any hole in the system lowers the system pressure and hence the boiling point. If it's the plastic neck, you could try cleaning the hole (crack) and applying some high heat resistant epoxy glue. Note that it's not just the heat but also the pressure in the system that may force the glue to fail. I'd research ways to best patch it before doing anything.
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#8
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http://www.jbweld.com/products/plasticweld-epoxy-putty
http://www.jbweld.com/collections/82...icweld-syringe
Last edited by Tom57; 08-08-15 at 01:01 PM.
#9
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Thread Starter
A mechanic friend inspected the car for me this morning and found that one of the two fans behind the radiator was not working and therefore caused the lights to turn on and the radiator to overheat. Since the radiator on closer exam has a one inch crack and not just a hole, I have decided to replace it together with the fan. It is a Sunday here but I could get the car going properly again within a few hours. This is what I call Hong Kong efficiency though the cost is much higher than elsewhere.
Thanks everyone for the input.
Thanks everyone for the input.
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