Radiator Leakage question

kenfowler · Dec 12, 2013

Hey everyone, check out the attached picture and please let me know what these leaking hoses/valve are and how to fix the issues.

Hoses, I'm sure I just order new ones and put em in. But the white valve/overflow thing, is that fixable?

Thank you!

spoonman · Dec 12, 2013

That is weird that the valve is leaking. I am sure you probably already did this, but did you try tightening it?

And for the hoses, just make sure to buy TRANS COOLER LINE hoses. If you go to an auto parts store, many will try to tell you fuel line hose works the same, but it doesnt.

LUBECAKES · Dec 12, 2013

You may be able to loosen the drain valve and re-tighten it, when cold of course, but be careful, if it won't budge easily, leave it be.
You need #6 "worm style" hose clamps for the hoses. Tighten them well, but not too much. You should still be able to turn them (with plenty of resistance) once they are tightened. Try pulling them off afterwords, then check them again after you drive for a few days. Be sure to check the hoses themselves, and you may want to spring for some new hoses anyway. I believe they're 11/32" or 5/16". Make sure they're for oil and gasoline use.

HRTKD · Dec 13, 2013

You have a lot of oil spots and for many of them it's hard to tell where they came from. The passenger side transmission cooler line already has a worm clamp on it (see the left end in the picture), but there is still quite a bit of fluid residue on the hose and below it. That would worry me.

The radiator drain plug kind of looks like it has been wrenched on. Maybe it's bad? I have one from my old OEM radiator if you want it. I don't know how you would "fix" a bad plug other than replacing it. I checked the Service Manual and I fully expected it to say "Do not reuse the drain plug". But it doesn't, so it should be reusable. Maybe someone over-tightened it. The manual calls for 11 in/lbs. That's inch/pounds, not foot/pounds.

Kronos1965 · Dec 13, 2013

Tonight, I just had to replace my transmission cooler line, power steering line, and the lower radiator hose...

LUBECAKES · Dec 13, 2013

Sometime those cheap plastic plugs can be backed off then re-tightened, with no more leak....it's just an o-ring in there. Good luck buying a new one, I don't know if you can or not.

Worm clamps are not foolproof either, sometimes they have to be tighter than you'd think, because of how they can bunch up the hose in one spot. I would buy some new hose since you'll be working on it anyway. Your trans cooler lines have very little pressure in them, but oil can seep through the smallest of places.

Radiator Leakage question

kenfowler

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