radiator sprung a leak
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 663
Likes: 1
From: Nashville TN
radiator sprung a leak
While cruising around town with the top down I got a whiff of antifreeze and noticed my low coolant light came on. I pulled into a gas station and steam poured out from under the hood. I raised the hood and coolant was spraying in a 1/8" stream coming from the side of the radiator tank where it meets the aluminum.
Is it toast and what brands should I avoid?
Is it toast and what brands should I avoid?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,065
Likes: 39
It probably leaked through the gasket between the core and the plastic tanks. I bought a American Eagle 2 row aluminum radiator with 1 inch tubing for $200. This company got very good reviews, they are part of Champion radiators. You'll need to do some modifications for the rubber grommets and the fan shroud to get it into place. Don't know if you're up to that but from what I see and hear its a pretty good radiator.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,185
Likes: 33
From: Charlotte Michigan
If your going to replace it, go with a DeWitt's single row. It is larger than the stock one and very high quality construction. It is well worth the additional cost over foreign made ones, see there sponsor link here on the forum under cooling.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,713
Likes: 105
From: Manassas VA
If your car is stock, and you don't plan on any really radical changes, I would just go with a stock replacement. The stock system cools well and for $100.00 or so, it cant be beat.
FWIW I went with one of the Champion aftermarket radiators, due to having to replace mine anyways, and the fact it is making close to twice the hp it came from the factory with. Otherwise I would have stayed stock and used the extra money somewhere else.
FWIW I went with one of the Champion aftermarket radiators, due to having to replace mine anyways, and the fact it is making close to twice the hp it came from the factory with. Otherwise I would have stayed stock and used the extra money somewhere else.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 663
Likes: 1
From: Nashville TN
So I got a replacement radiator and got it in today. The steam pipe nipple on the top rt appears to be too small. I cannot get it to seal and measured it with calipers. It is no doubt smaller than the previous radiator.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 663
Likes: 1
From: Nashville TN
Got a replacement radiator installed and while running with just water for testing purposes the cruising temp appears to have dropped down to 192 from a rock solid 200 before the new radiator.
I also swapped all the hoses and added a new 180 thermostat only to see that my old one was stamped 180.
I'd still like the fans to come on sooner but I don't want to go through chip programming right now
I also swapped all the hoses and added a new 180 thermostat only to see that my old one was stamped 180.
I'd still like the fans to come on sooner but I don't want to go through chip programming right now
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Sounds like everything will be OK. Assuming the old radiator was OEM, the chances are that there was dirt and debris embedded between the fins and tubes. Less airflow means higher temps. Also, the tubes will get thin over the years due simply to coolant passing thru. Thinner tubes will not allow for good heat transfer.
I would also get a new pressure cap if the new radiator didn't come with one. Should be 15 psi.
With the indicated temp of 192 that you saw, there should not be any real need for having the fans to come on at a lower temp.
I would also get a new pressure cap if the new radiator didn't come with one. Should be 15 psi.
With the indicated temp of 192 that you saw, there should not be any real need for having the fans to come on at a lower temp.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 663
Likes: 1
From: Nashville TN
Sounds like everything will be OK. Assuming the old radiator was OEM, the chances are that there was dirt and debris embedded between the fins and tubes. Less airflow means higher temps. Also, the tubes will get thin over the years due simply to coolant passing thru. Thinner tubes will not allow for good heat transfer.
I would also get a new pressure cap if the new radiator didn't come with one. Should be 15 psi.
With the indicated temp of 192 that you saw, there should not be any real need for having the fans to come on at a lower temp.
I would also get a new pressure cap if the new radiator didn't come with one. Should be 15 psi.
With the indicated temp of 192 that you saw, there should not be any real need for having the fans to come on at a lower temp.