Was almost home from work today and I smelled coolant, and smoke started to rise from underneath the hood. So I pulled over to take a look and saw coolant leaking from the radiator. It's leaking between what appears to be two separate pieces of the radiator? Pics are below, leaking stopped before I took the picture.

Does this require the replacement of the entire radiator? what would cause this?

any help is appreciated!

 

Ok, so it seems that spot is just the radiator seam. Looks like I'm buying a new radiator this weekend.


Should I be good with just replacing the radiator? The car did not overheat or have any other issues, just sprung a sudden leak.

Also if anyone has a write up that would be awesome.

 

yes change it. you rather that than it fully give out and you run your motor hot which = blown motor and useless car

 

yeah definitely. Which is why I'm glad I was almost home, the car never got hot at all.

Just ordered the new radiator.

 

Installing the radiator today, ended up going with a Koyo.

Since I'm just draining/installing the radiator and not draining the block, do I only add fluid to the overflow reservoir to fill the radiator? Or do I have to fill at the water inlet housing on the engine as well?

 

fill both and then crack open the 17mm bolt on the front centertop of your motor turn the car on and keep an eye on the temp gauge. fill in the 17mm hole and wait untill no more bubble are present, those bubbles in the coolant system will overheat your motor just as fast as no fluid