Radiator leaks

[Terry Peters CLC 877]

My car is a 33LaSalle with the original Harrison radiator.
This is a non-pressurized radiator.
It has no visible rust inside or out. No overheating  problem. Water is clear.
Just last week it sprung 2 small leaks about 4 inches
down from the top.   Should I try to treat it with a cellulose
type sealer?  Does anyone make a sealer that works
like  a gas tank sealer coating the entire inside?
Would a radiator shop do any better if I yanked it out
 ( a big job) and took it to them.  What might they do?
I would appreciate opinions or advise from you club
members with cars of this era.
Terry

[JIM CLC # 15000]

06-08-05
TERRY as much as I hate to say this, take it out and take it to the oldest shop you can find and have it repaired. Anything else would be a "band-aid". Try to find and "old shop" where the workers/owener has repaired the old ones before, you dont want them learning doing yours. A shop that has on there sign, "best place in town to take a leak" would get my business.
Good Luck, Jim

[Bruce Reynolds # 18992]

Gday Terry,

Sorry to read that your LaSalle has sprung a couple of leaks, but, unless there is some sign that the leaks were caused by an outside source, i.e. a stone or something like that, then it looks like you are in trouble.

It sounds to me like the copper is starting to degrade and fracture through age.

A Radiator Stop Leak like "Barrs Leak" will work, and will stop future leaks, but if the copper tubing is "disintegrating", then it wont be long before the whole core becomes a series of plugged up leaks.   I have found Barrs Leak to be really good, as it also lubricates the water pump seal as well.   But, it should be replaced every six months.

The biggest killer of Radiators is vibration, and twisting of the chassis, and unless the radiator is correctly retained as per factory, then leaks will be evident sooner, rather than later.

You can guarantee that if you take it to a Radiator Specialist, the first thing that the operator is going to tell you, is that "It needs a new core", and it probably does.

If it has been externally damaged, then the holes can simply be soldered up, but if not, then it is either the "Stop Leak" or a core replacement.

Bruce,
The Tassie Devil(le),
60 CDV

[Rhino 21150]

Dont panic! While the repairs suggested are good they are all time consuming and expensive. This repair is cheap and easy and will hold for about ten years. Let enough water out to allow the leaky spot to dry. Clean gently with a green scratchy pad from the kitchen and rubbing alcohol. Spread J B Weld epoxy across the leak. If the leak is bigger than a pinhole or very narrow crack, glue a piece of copper over the leak. I know a 1976 Dodge Aspen that has had the radiator fixed this way since 1980. The cooper on this one was a new penny. Now why they still have the Aspen is another question. After you do this a dozen times, get the radiator recored!