View Full Version : URGENT: Radiator help required!!!
For a couple of days now there's been some coolant under the 190 when I've left it parked up.
I assumed that, as it didn't have an electric fan, the cooland was getting too hot when the engine was switched off and as a result a small ammount was coming out of the overflow pipe.
Just off out for a blast in the nissan now when I notice a small lake under the merc. Upon closer inspection coolant is in fact dripping out of what looks like a tap at the bottom of the radiator. I assume this is actually the drain tap.
Is this indicative of something sinister or should I attempt to turn the tap to see if this stops the leak?
Any help would be appreciated as my mechanical knoweldge is precisely zero.
tim rome
01-06-2003, 18:19
i would try to tighten it up but dont force it too much, it may have just worked loose, but it could be its leaking somewhere else and just running down and dripping off the tap
Managed to tighten it up a fraction but not much. It's deffo coming from the tap but strangely it doesn't do it when the water is hot, only cold.
Maybe I'll have to invest in some radweld tomorrow.
It might be thwe anti-freeze (which will get through a hole that is too small for the water) :confused:
Although that doesn't explain the illogical statement that it doesn't happen when the water is hot........
Er, I know this is NOT the answer you were looking for but you could ask Merc..........
Merc = Big £££'s = :cry: :cry: :cry:
:(
still......gives you a chance to take the 200 for a blast to work on monday :D
Is it a tap, or a screwed-in bung like a hot water bottle?
Either way there's probably a rubber washer which could have perished.
Expansion might seal it when hot...
Originally posted by Jon
Is it a tap, or a screwed-in bung like a hot water bottle?
Either way there's probably a rubber washer which could have perished.
Expansion might seal it when hot...
Good answer :notworthy
Ah, well. Just proves I haven't got a f*cking clue :cool: :rolleyes:
To add to the above, I've heard some nasty horror stories about RadWeld completely blocking up the rad !!!
Dave
Originally posted by Ripper
Good answer :notworthy
Ah, well. Just proves I haven't got a f*cking clue :cool: :rolleyes:
Huge fecking surprise there then :finger:
It's more a screwed in bung than a tap. If what I've done to it today (shouting, swearing, and a bit of tightening doesn't work) then I'll have to take it to my tame mechanic.
Deathstar: No way will I be taking the 200 to work. I feel a Volvo day coming on.
that means you will be wearing a "all creatures great and small" twee jacket with leather arm patches and a pipe be driving like a tosser and have 2 labradors in the boot where ever you go in your sherman tank :p :thumbs:
:finger:
spotted JB on the way to work a dog is clearly being sick in the boot (jack russel) :D
http://freespace.virgin.net/tjl.thegrove/btcc9415.jpg
You won't catch me in one of those Deathstar, me boy. It's scrabbly-shit.
i was just thinking you mite say that :D :notworthy
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Ripper
Good answer
Ah, well. Just proves I haven't got a f*cking clue
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Huge fecking surprise there
__________________
Thankyooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! :p
At least I'm honest*
*Except when stopped by stupid Plod at 3am for driving at the speed limit.......:rolleyes:
JB.
Hurry up and check. I need to know if I'm right but have to sleep also :sleep:
Yeah, JB - you get outside at 0130a.m. and check that big rad of yours! :D :D :D
PS In 1986 I changed the radiator on my Daihatsu Charade at 0300 before I went to work for a 5am start.
And it was in November.
I was 'ard as nails in those days :finger: :rolleyes:
Bugger. Was still dripping this morning.
Jon think you may be right about the seal. Can these things be replaced or is it a brand new radiator job :(
Depends on the design
Do you need a drain plug? As a last resort glue it in
Got home about an hour ago with my brand spanking new can of radweld to find it's hardly leaked at all. Maybe all the tightening I did with the mole grips has sorted 95% of it out.
Gonna use it as normal tomorrow (with 2 5 litre bottles of water as backup in the boot :rolleyes: ) and see what happens before I think about adding radweld.
Wak. yeah I need the drain plug otherwise how am I gonna get what is 95% pure water out in time for the winter?
jb if you stick that radweld in then i will pour 2.5litres of water into my pc then we can both look :tosser: :tosser: :tosser:
dave s was spot on :thumbs: :thumbs:
Originally posted by Chris
jb if you stick that radweld in then i will pour 2.5litres of water into my pc then we can both look :tosser: :tosser: :tosser:
dave s was spot on :thumbs: :thumbs:
Oh, cos radweld is probably about as technical as I can cope with :( :(
i will try to put it simply , radweld blocks holes ( so keep it away from both the car and mrs jb;) ;) ) your rad relies on its holes ( internal not external ) to cool the water , would you like the holes blocked ? ( the radiator i mean :D :D :D )
Originally posted by Chris
i will try to put it simply , radweld blocks holes ( so keep it away from both the car and mrs jb;) ;) ) your rad relies on its holes ( internal not external ) to cool the water , would you like the holes blocked ? ( the radiator i mean :D :D :D )
Waatchit :p
Yeah I take your point cheers (and you Dave) :thumbs:
If it doesn't ride up with wear I'll take it to a propper rad place and see what they suggest.
:thumbs:
Originally posted by JB
Got home about an hour ago with my brand spanking new can of radweld to find it's hardly leaked at all. Maybe all the tightening I did with the mole grips has sorted 95% of it out.
Gonna use it as normal tomorrow (with 2 5 litre bottles of water as backup in the boot :rolleyes: ) and see what happens before I think about adding radweld.
Wak. yeah I need the drain plug otherwise how am I gonna get what is 95% pure water out in time for the winter?
Pull the big hose off the bottom
Originally posted by Wak
Pull the big hose off the bottom
That's clever thinking that is. Seriously, I'd never have thought of that in a million years.
That's the experience of years spent on the fairgrounds shining through that is :notworthy :notworthy :notworthy :notworthy :notworthy :notworthy ;)
Scream if you want to go faster :D
BTW I wasn't being totally flippant, not all cars have drain plugs.
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