Sprung a leak!

[anonymous-user]

Hello all, I used to have a slight leak from the radiator so I put a bit of radweld in for a temporary fix. It's been fine for the last six months or so but for the past week I've noticed it's started leaking again. I normally check the water level in the expansion tank and the swan neck. The level in the swan neck is always almost overflowing which I have read is correct (and more important than the level in the expansion tank). I've noticed now that the level in the swan neck is very low but if you open the expansion tank cap as well it rises back up to the correct level. The car doesn't overheat at all and seems to run normally. Should I top up the water directly in the swan neck as well as the expansion tank? and is it a cause for concern? Thanks!

[rev-erend]

That sounds fine to me..

[pwd95]

Examine the rad, if you can see a visible leak (as I could) It's worth planning a replacement. If you don't do a great deal of milage, you'll have some time to plan it.

[rev-erend]

Look for a tell tale green trail along one of the sides ..

A recore is around £110.

[anonymous-user]

£110 sounds pretty resonable. Originally I only put half the bottle of Radweld in (don't ask me why!). Think I'm going to pour the rest in for the moment and go for a re-core in the new year when I've got a bit more spare cash.

[number 7]

I very never look at the level in the swan neck unless I've drained the system. The expansion tank level moves up and down with temp. normally - excess that is pushed out when hot into the overflow tank should be siphoned back by vacumn effect while cooling.

One place the rads. do tend to leak is around the otter switch, due to the ludicrous securing mechanism. A new rubber sea can fix it, or you can get a proper brass boss fitted when you get it recored, which allows a screw in switch.

7.

[jmorgan]

On a recore, I had the otter sealed up as it was a mare to get at and with a manky clip to keep it all in, it seemed leak waiting to happen sometime down the line. Fitted an in line fan control that I have yet to wire in but I have a fan overide. Bit silly really but I cannot decide the best course, direct to the battery or off the fuse board hence ignition on for the fan to run.

Might make my mind up one day but at least I no longer have to worry about the sodding thing leaking, taking off the otter and applying a sealant and gaining numerous cuts and fiber glass rashes only to pop the otter back in and on hearing the metal on metal plunk as it drops to the bottom of the side tank as I forgot to put the rubber seal back in and then have to drop the rad to get the effing thing out