Jay351

I have a row of TINY leaks on the top of my rad (between the ridges) in a nice neat row..
Johnny had mentioned that rad fluid turns to acid if not changed for a long time so im pretty sure thats what happend.
Question is, short of buying a new/used rad is there any kinda goop I can just put on TOP of the rad to kinda seal the micron holes up?

I refuse to put anything IN the rad but since its only leaking a drop or two a day I thought I might as well leave it..

spanish-road

use a soldering iorn and fulx to fill the holes I did that to my old 53 International and it had a puncture wound.

paxil4x4

Radiators are not exactly expensive for these trucks. Buy a new one and be done with it, it's amazing how people cheap out only to have their rig break down, or worse end up spending thousands because the engine was overheated.

It only takes one time.

cunninglinguist

Its most likely only a temporary fix. You will plug up some pinholes only to have others pop up later. I would replace.

Elkaholic

If you are strapped on cash then solder it, but replace it whenever possible.

Jay351

I will just leave it for now and get a new rad sooner or later, just have to watch my coolant level

TNRabbit

My truck had those when I bought it in 2000; I had them soldered & after 130,000 miles I only have one tiny pinhole that leaks about a drop an hour. I just soldered it last week. That's the only issue I've had with the radiator. You just can't go for months without checking the coolant level, but only an idiot would do that, anyway.

kevinkal

If your holes were caused by acidic fluid eating through your radiator, chances are that you've got other weak spots in your radiator. It would be a good idea to inspect the whole top section of the radiator. Look for faint lines/cracks. Check around the radiator cap flange joing and the and the hot coolant input joint. I think these are the more common places to fail if coolant goes acidic.

The fact that you have a "row" of leaks, implies that you have a crack forming across where the holes are.

I had a similar problem.. and saw that the raditor was about to fail in numerous places. Thus, I was forced to spring for a new aftermarket radiator.

rdlsz24

My radiator had a small hole in it and I was going to take it to a radiator place to have it welded, but that was going to cost about half the price of a new aftermarket one so I just sprung for the new one.

Rob