Radiator leak

Topic: Radiator leak (Read 2221 times) previous topic - next topic

Radiator leak

March 24, 2013, 08:02:49 pm

Pulled into our campsite this afternoon and during my post travel walk around I noticed a small puddle of coolant under the rear corner of the radiator. Thought it might be the hose clamp but it's not.

I remember some post's about bolts being loose and causing leaks which I will check later but I am thinking I may want to add some Bars leak or something? Has anyone had any issues using a coolant stop leak? We use the OAT based coolant.

Dean

Re: Radiator leak

Reply #1 – March 24, 2013, 08:23:31 pm

Quote from: Dean & Dee – March 24, 2013, 08:02:49 pm

Pulled into our campsite this afternoon and during my post travel walk around I noticed a small puddle of coolant under the rear corner of the radiator. Thought it might be the hose clamp but it's not.

I remember some post's about bolts being loose and causing leaks which I will check later but I am thinking I may want to add some Bars leak or something? Has anyone had any issues using a coolant stop leak? We use the OAT based coolant.

Dean

We were told to use 4 cans of Barrs Stop Leak C-16 on the Alaska Motorcade and it worked.

Re: Radiator leak

Reply #2 – March 24, 2013, 08:38:28 pm

Dean,

I would suggest that first, you try and find the source of the leak. Might need a bright LED flashlight and a small mirror. If the leak is exposed, I would first take the pressure off the system, throughly clean the area and then try a bit of JB Weld. I just made a temp repair on a water well pressure tank with 75 psi and it is holding fine a month later. Have used it on broken radiator tubes and it lasted for years.

I have used a tablespoon of cayenne pepper and it stopped a couple of small leaks. Barrs Stop Leak is my third choice. I just don't like additives in the cooling system if there is an alternative. Probably just me but they are not like an oil leak additive where you can just drain them out.

Naturally, a radiator shop will be the best solution if close by. Generally, small leaks indicate a problem that may get worse down the road.

Pierce

Re: Radiator leak

Reply #3 – March 24, 2013, 08:41:50 pm

Hi Dean and Dee. Soon after we bought, found a small leak while in the shop for other work. Nothing noted before that, no puddles. When took things apart, as one must on a 2001, we found the bolts along the end of the radiator were all rusted and failing. Had to replace the radiator, major coach bucks.

I do not disagree with an additive to stop leaks. I just caution that IF I had tried that in mine on my own and though it ok (it cured it), it seems it would have been temporary and a pretty major loss before long, leaving us stranded. It was better to have the repair in the shop than on the highway. I hope you can find out the exact cause of the leak and assess the best way to fix this.

Mike

Re: Radiator leak

Reply #4 – March 24, 2013, 09:27:49 pm

Had a small puddle at the same location.Turned out I needed a gasket in the rim of the radiator cap. Gam

Re: Radiator leak

Reply #5 – March 24, 2013, 11:10:56 pm

Quote from: gam – March 24, 2013, 09:27:49 pm

Had a small puddle at the same location.Turned out I needed a gasket in the rim of the radiator cap. Gam

Just replaced the cap recently.

Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart – March 24, 2013, 08:38:28 pm

Dean,

I would suggest that first, you try and find the source of the leak. Might need a bright LED flashlight and a small mirror. Pierce

I will see if I can find the leak but of course we are in a casino park and the minute I open the engine door a security truck comes along and I get a "look" so I will have to do the "Mission Improbable" operation to fix it, hanging upside down on a wire in the dark hoping a bead of sweat dosen't hit the ground.

Re: Radiator leak

Reply #6 – March 25, 2013, 01:29:36 am

We had a leak that was from a seam that joins a tank to the radiator core. I believe the tank is attached by two rows of bolts. I tightened the inside row, which stopped the leak and while we were at FOT earlier this year I had them tighten the outer row. I could not access the outer row of bolts. Photos attached. Hope this helps and that your problem can be solved this easily. Dick

Re: Radiator leak

Reply #7 – March 25, 2013, 06:18:20 am

Dean, had a small leak in my rad about a year ago, 2 bottles of Bars Leak C 16 Leak all gone, have not added coolant since. There are a lot of old wives tales about radiator stop leak, however the new stuff works. As others have said check all connections and the header bolts first. With the cost of a new radiator($4000+)/or the cost to R&R and repair, stop leak is well worth a try. Sooner or later any radiator will have to come out for repairs, at least by adding stop leak if you can't find the leak it will give you time to shop the job.

Re: Radiator leak

Reply #8 – March 25, 2013, 08:40:17 am

I thought my rad was leaking and after having it removed and rebuilt twice still a leak I found it was the small plastic reserve tank was cracked at the back and running down hoses and dripping on the corner of the rad looking like a rad leak. After replacing the plastic tank end of problem. Expense lesson. If I had to do it again I would have a presser check done before removing the rad. Learning Learning.

Dave 2003 U320

Re: Radiator leak

Reply #9 – March 25, 2013, 10:28:27 am

Quote from: Dick S – March 25, 2013, 01:29:36 am

We had a leak that was from a seam that joins a tank to the radiator core. I believe the tank is attached by two rows of bolts. Hope this helps and that your problem can be solved this easily. Dick

Dick that is tha exact area mine is leaking. I will try to get at the bolts today and see if that helps. If not I will go the Bars Leak route.

Thanks to everyone, Dean

Re: Radiator leak

Reply #10 – March 25, 2013, 11:08:02 am

If one can find a mechanic or a shop to remove the radiator you can take it to a Radiator repair shop and have a new core installed for under$1500. You can even get a higher performance radiator for that price if you are having any cooling problems. I was quoted $4500 at FOT for a new radiator and $1600 for a new core by a local radiator shop. Luckily I didn't need a new core once they pulled mine and opened it up so I just paid labor. I did have a new water pump installed while the radiator was out of the coach. This was on my U225 in 2009.

Re: Radiator leak

Reply #11 – March 25, 2013, 11:14:15 am

Quote from: Dean & Dee – March 25, 2013, 10:28:27 am

Dick that is tha exact area mine is leaking. I will try to get at the bolts today and see if that helps. If not I will go the Bars Leak route.

Ours leaked back in 2009 and it was from a couple of bolts on the radiator as well. I didn't see which ones, but the tech at FOT both tightened the bolts and put in a couple of cans of Bars Leak and we haven't had a recurrence.

Ha - that's 3 '03's that have had the leak. Around here that would have me adding "check radiator bolts for coolant weeping" to our "Coach List 2013.xls"

Michelle

Re: Radiator leak

Reply #12 – March 25, 2013, 11:39:47 am

Quote from: Michelle – March 25, 2013, 11:14:15 am

Ha - that's 3 '03's that have had the leak. Around here that would have me adding "check radiator bolts for coolant weeping" to our "Coach List 2013.xls"

Michelle

Well I just tightened the row of bolts that Dick's photo showed and they all took about an 1/8 turn to tighten.
I only find one row of bolts, (which is where the leak appeared). Where is the second row that Dick mentions?
Hopefully that takes care of the issue but I am going to go pick up some Bars Leak just in case. I think Michelle is right, there seems to be a pattern with the 03's here.
Thanks, Dean

Re: Radiator leak

Reply #13 – March 25, 2013, 11:45:20 am

Quote from: Michelle – March 25, 2013, 11:14:15 am

Around here that would have me adding "check radiator bolts for coolant weeping" to our "Coach List 2013.xls" Michelle

Is that an Excel file I can find on the forum (hint, hint)?

Re: Radiator leak

Reply #14 – March 25, 2013, 11:50:22 am

So an online search shows several types of Bars Leak for radiators. Anyone recall which one FOT used?

Re: Radiator leak

Reply #15 – March 25, 2013, 11:55:03 am

Quote from: Dean & Dee – March 25, 2013, 11:50:22 am

So an online search shows several types of Bars Leak for radiators. Anyone recall which one FOT used?

Never mind. Reread the thread.

Bars Leak C 16

Re: Radiator leak

Reply #16 – March 25, 2013, 11:59:56 am

Quote from: Dean & Dee – March 25, 2013, 10:28:27 am

......................Dick that is tha exact area mine is leaking. I will try to get at the bolts today and see if that helps. If not I will go the Bars Leak route..............

Dean,
I may be too late.......
Go gently on those bolts. It is very easy to quickly make things a LOT worse, if you're not sure of what you're doing. Especially since they are so difficult to get access to. It's very easy to slightly alter the shapes of the radiator tanks and frames and the in-service gasket isn't as accommodating as a new gasket would be.
FOT had many difficulties with the original radiators in the '96 to 2001 timeframe. I'm not sure of the details, but I think that the radiator designs were changed substantially before they got rid of those problems. Many coaches had radiators replaced under Warranty, etc. Some coaches, several times. Two years ago when we were in NAC, I saw a 2000 U320, that we used to pal around with, getting its fourth radiator. But then, the original owners would not permit the use of Bars Leak.
If you can find the exact source of the leak, and you're only seeing a small amount of leakage when engine is shut down hot, leave it for FOT or MOT to evaluate.

I had a leak that only occurred when I shut down after running hard under load (residual engine mass heating). FOT NAC very gently torqued the immediate vicinity bolts near the source of the leak (end bell tank bolts) . They were reluctant to do that and told me so. The leak didn't change characteristics over the next six months. They offerred to change the radiator under warranty, but suggested that we try Bars Leak first. We tried the Bars Leak in 2000. I never saw another drop of coolant under the coach and I stopped losing the one or two quarts that seemed to go missing routinely.
Just saying, I wasn't happy about sealing a leak from the inside out, and avoided it for quite some time. But FOT knew best and I'm happy.

BTW, I always perk up when something new pops up right after I took some intended improvement action..........i.e. - look carefully at that coolant system cap that you just replaced/and its mating surfaces/and its potential leak pathway to your coolant on the ground/Etc./Etc.
Happy hunting,
Neal

Re: Radiator leak

Reply #17 – March 25, 2013, 12:41:57 pm

Thanks Neal. I was pretty careful not to overtighten the bolts. I really won't know anything until we get back on the road but I will take another look at the cap, OF tank etc. to make sure it's not coming from anywhere else.

It's a pretty small leak so hopefully between the bolts and some Bars Leak all will be healed up.

I assume the Bars Leak should be added at the radiator cap and not the overflow tank?

Thanks, Dean

Re: Radiator leak

Reply #18 – March 25, 2013, 05:13:29 pm

Quote from: Dean & Dee – March 25, 2013, 12:41:57 pm

I assume the Bars Leak should be added at the radiator cap and not the overflow tank?

Thanks, Dean

That is correct. After it is cool.

Re: Radiator leak

Reply #19 – March 25, 2013, 06:50:00 pm

Well it's still leaking. Was hoping the bolt tightening would make it go away. So I picked up some Bars Leak Heavy Duty because no one around here carry's the C16. Bars Leak web-site recommends the heavy duty for diesels.

Now just have to find some Rottella ELC just to have on hand. I poured my last half gallon in yesterday. Fingers crossed on the Bars Leak.

Dean

Re: Radiator leak

Reply #20 – March 25, 2013, 08:40:15 pm

Dean when I put the Bars Leak in mine I drained a couple of gallons of coolant added bars leak, then topped it up with the coolant I drained out. I then drove it about 30 miles to get things warmed up to operating temp. After it cools off over night you may need to top up the coolant again, then you should be good to go.

Re: Radiator leak

Reply #21 – March 26, 2013, 02:04:28 pm

Today I crawled under the coach again with a good light and found the inner row of bolts. You have to squeeze your head in so you can see inside the fan shroud. There was evidence of a leak at a couple of them but i did not try to put a wrench on them.

So then like Barry did, I siphoned off a gallon of coolent out of the radiator and dumped 3 bottles of Bars Leak in and we took a 25 mile ride to warm things up.

3 cheers for Bars Leak! No more drippy......

Yeah, I know. I may have to deal with it again at some point but if I can keep a couple grand in my pocket for now I am a happy camper.

Thanks again for all the great forum help. Dean

Re: Radiator leak

Reply #22 – March 26, 2013, 03:05:45 pm

A couple or three Grand in the hand will always make for a happy camper, and a full fuel tank.

Re: Radiator leak

Reply #23 – July 09, 2013, 09:25:51 pm

Ok, Michelle, add one more to your list of 2003 FT's with leaking around the bolts holding the tank to the core.

Saw a wet spot on the ground under the rear end of the coach tonight at our beautiful spot here on the Mississippi river in downtown Keokuk, Iowa. Looked at the end of the radiator and, sure enough, just like the photos others have posted, there was a leak.

I did not take Neal's advice - I cranked on them a bit with a short wrench (nothing personal, Neal). Five on one side and four on the other were a bit loose (1/8 turn or less). Those above (that I could get to) were tight. Tomorrow I will find some Bars and more Rotella (Rotella is hard to find).

Then on to HWH in Moscow.

Re: Radiator leak

Reply #24 – July 09, 2013, 09:46:11 pm

Jim, tightening those bolts stopped our leak. We have not needed Bar's Leak.
Dick

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