Who has had problems with oem replacement radiators leaking?

[TimZ]

Just looking for trends - I just replaced my radiator during the 60k service. The end tank had leaked, although I had fixed it by re-crimping the tabs. I thought it would be a good idea to just replace it while I had things apart. Now the new radiator is leaking after about 500 miles. shoot

 

[shojuan]

I hope you got one with a lifetime replacement warranty. Either way at 500 miles you should be covered under some kind of warranty. Pull it out, get a replacement radiator. I don't think this is a common problem, you just got a bum replacement part.

Rick

 

[SHOZ123]

I did with a Modine. Started leaking about a month after I got it.

 

[Sho-N-Go]

Yes this is a common prob to those that live in the midwest. Or similar weather conditions. the expansion rate between the plastic endtank and the alum core causes the seal to leak. Another one of Fords better Ideas. Some days it wont leak at all but others it will leak quite badly. also they norm wont leak while engine is hot. The will leak when setting cooling off.

<small>[ October 06, 2002, 06:32 PM: Message edited by: toolboy79 ]</small>

 

[SHOZ123]

Yes mine will only leak after it's cooled down and below 0F.

 

[snowwind1990]

Well Bart leaks from about everywhere he ever had gaskets and pumps replaced. I guess whomever replaced these parts must have had a lot on their mind other than what they were doing. It seems a terrible shame to see things replaced with a poor quality when the quality of the part is not to blame only the who installed it....
I think some of the no-brainer replacements may be the trickiest to do, like replacing a rad. or a SHO Shop Snorkel K&N filter installation....I mean, if you ever did one before in your life, you should be able to do it about with your eyes shut..I think I even could that..hindsight is so freeken great!!!!!!.
Not flaming!!!
I just can't see how so many times a known excellent quality replacement item can fail so damn quick.....maybe it isn't the part but the part putter.! eek!
Ma Ma M..........gonna stay po'd
shoulda never happened to Bart.

 

[TimZ]

Huh?

If you are implying that I didn't install it correctly, I'd have to disagree. I'm not stupid.
The end tank is physically loose under the "crimp". It wiggles.

 

[snowwind1990]

No,no,no.. I absolutely did not imply or state you were stupid or didn't do it right........I had someone else in mind....
Sounds like you did fine...someone else screwed up Bart time and time again....
I would have been better doin' it myself as you did....I wish the original owner of Bart would have tried doin' it for his ownself...
I simply am saying, the part is not always the problem, it is the way it is put in after the original is removed..done incorrectly can lead to a major dominoe effect of problem after problem.
Ma Ma M shoot

 

[TimZ]

Quick update -

Rather than taking this rad back to the dealer and arguing with them and possibly ending up with a new radiator with exactly the same problem, I pulled this rad, and took it to a radiator shop.

They had a machine that is designed for crimping the end tanks on, since they do this same thing when they recore a radiator. They pulled both end tanks, checked the seals, and crimped them back on properly. 35 bucks later - and no more problems, at least for now. The guy at the shop did mention that the metal used for the crimp is about half a thick as what he is used to working with.

 

[shojuan]

$35 ain't too bad for a service well done. Next time just get a radiator from autozone with a lifetime replacement warranty. About $160. They won't hassle you if you try to get a new one because it leaks. Then you'll get a new core and new tanks.

May you drive many leak free miles on that radiator!

Rick