Jim Grant's Tech Tips
'93 Chevy Silverado, Radiator Hairline Leak
Q:
I have
a hairline leak on the top of my radiator of my '93 Chevy Silverado. The
fan cover blocks it out on the edge. I took off the cover and noticed
how small it really is. My question is if J.B. Weld will work? I think
the radiator is plastic at least the casing area. Should I replace the
radiator and upgrade to a bigger one? What do you recommend I should do.
-
Ben L.
A:
I would
suggest replacing the radiator for a couple of reasons. Repairing old
plastic is a patch that might hold. Do you want to find out that the patch
didn’t hold just when you need your truck the most? Also, inside
the radiator the cooling tubes have been collecting deposits that interfere
with the effectiveness of the radiator. Old radiators just don’t
cool as well as they should. If your truck is in good condition and you’re
planning on keeping it, do yourself and the truck a favor and install
a new radiator. If the coolant hoses haven’t been changed it would
be a good time to update them as well.
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