A few weeks ago I smelled coolant and noticed a small puddle of coolant underneath my ’98 Corvette. When I pulled the plastic cover off the radiator I found that the small plastic tank/reservoir on the driver’s side (where one of the coolant hoses attaches) was leaking. Basically this plastic tank was made of two pieces of plastic that were joined together before being put on the radiator. The seam between the two pieces was leaking.

I drained the coolant, cleaned the whole area, and tried to put JB Weld down the seam to stop the leak. Didn’t work. So I drained it again, cleaned the whole area, and tried to put JB Weld all over the top of the reservoir. Still didn’t work. So I’m now thinking that I won’t be able to fix this leak and rather need to just replace it. Any other thoughts?

Can I replace just that plastic reservoir or am I looking at needing a whole new radiator? If I need a whole radiator where do you recommend I get one? I really am just looking for OEM for the car. I don’t race the car and don’t have any mods requiring extra cooling so I don’t need a really high end radiator. I want what is best for the car. Basically what I’m saying is I don’t want to go rank cheap and potentially hurt the car, but I also don’t want to put in a radiator that is way more then the car needs.

Any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks in advance!

 

I had a leak on my 98 but was the water pump it depends is your's
auto or manual some radiator shops can replace the tanks on the radiator. I suggest you replace the whole thing its an aluminum block and any chance of overheating your motor will cost your alot more if it
was to happen don't take the gamble I went out and fixed it right away
now I drive worry free not always looking at my temp gage at every light .
98 torch red coupe
manual six speed

 

See if a radiator shop can repair the tank. If not, try Gene at the Kar Shop and see if he has a radiator for your car.

 

Mine recently began doing this. You can just buy a replacement resevoir, you won't need a new radiator. I have not researched it yet, but I'm sure your dealer and even some of the Forum vendors carry replacement overflow tanks. Let me know what you find out.