Plastic radiator tank repair? - Page 1

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Plastic radiator tank repair?

Posted: 11/12/2009 4:39:11 AM EDT

I've got a Dodge Ram with a busted radiator. The crack is in the side tank, which is made outa plastic.

Is there any decent way to repair the plastic tank? Or do I have to pony up the $300-$400 for a whole new radiator?

Thanks!

Posted: 11/12/2009 4:58:27 AM EDT

[#1]

Quoted:
I've got a Dodge Ram with a busted radiator. The crack is in the side tank, which is made outa plastic.

Is there any decent way to repair the plastic tank? Or do I have to pony up the $300-$400 for a whole new radiator?

Thanks!

you could try some kind of epoxy like JB weld maybe. But I think that for a long term perm fix you are gonna have to replace it. You could also try something Bars Leak. I have used it on my wifes van and it worked but the leak was in a metal heater line not plastic.

J-

Posted: 11/12/2009 5:07:58 AM EDT

[#2]

I used to design radiators for Visteon. JB weld or some other epoxy may work. For testing we'd sometimes epoxy different things (nipples, thermocouples, etc) into the tanks.

Alternatively, you could try to get a junk yard radiator. If that rad is good, you're set. If it leaks, you can uncrimp the tank from the junk yard one and put it on your old rad. Its easier said than done, but it is possible!

K

Posted: 11/12/2009 6:09:45 AM EDT

[#3]

You could try bondo. I have used it to fix metal radiators in the past.

Posted: 11/12/2009 6:13:45 AM EDT

[#4]

jb weld industrial strength will work. you can find it at parts stores.

FYI. i had a tank crack on my 93 chevy and it was plastic. i used jb weld to stop the leak and later removed the radiator myself. i found a local shop that put a new tank on and cleaned and cored the radiator for 90$.

good luck

Posted: 11/12/2009 6:15:01 AM EDT

[#5]

Try JB weld... I've heard success from people patching oil pans and such, so it should handle the heat OK.

Posted: 11/12/2009 7:30:58 AM EDT

[#6]

Thanks, all. I've never had any long-term success with either JB Weld, or any of those coolant additives. Still open to suggestions, but I think I'm gonna ask the guy that does all of our company vehicles if he'll let me pay over time.

Posted: 11/12/2009 8:10:28 AM EDT

[#7]

Quoted:
I've got a Dodge Ram with a busted radiator. The crack is in the side tank, which is made outa plastic.

Is there any decent way to repair the plastic tank? Or do I have to pony up the $300-$400 for a whole new radiator?

Thanks!

I have seen people try to fix a plastic tank many times but I haven't seen it work.

And $300-400 doesn't seem right.
At stock unit should cost around $175-$200
What year is your truck?

Posted: 11/12/2009 8:19:35 AM EDT

[#8]

Or go to your local junkyard and pull a radiator from a truck that's been totaled from the side or rear. Should cost $50-75.

Posted: 11/12/2009 9:00:02 AM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:

Quoted:
I've got a Dodge Ram with a busted radiator. The crack is in the side tank, which is made outa plastic.

Is there any decent way to repair the plastic tank? Or do I have to pony up the $300-$400 for a whole new radiator?

Thanks!

I have seen people try to fix a plastic tank many times but I haven't seen it work.

And $300-400 doesn't seem right.
At stock unit should cost around $175-$200
What year is your truck?

It's a 2002. I got the $3-400 figure from a couple different websites. I'll have to call around to the parts stores. I'd think about getting a junker, but if the plastic on mine failed, I figure any used units will be just that much closer to their own failure point. Rather have new, since it doesn't look like SWMBO's gonna let me trade this truck in for a while...

Posted: 11/12/2009 5:41:36 PM EDT

[#10]

Its VERY unusual for a radiator tank to fail. '02 Ram was probably designed and manufactured by either Behr or Denso (I know it wasn't Visteon), both of which make quality products. Most failures are tube failures or tube to header failures.

I'd go for a junk yard radiator and save your money.

Again, this is advice from a radiator design engineer. This is one topic that I give advice about that I really do know WTF I'm talking about!

K

Posted: 11/12/2009 5:55:14 PM EDT

[#11]

Most, (if not all), modern radiators are plastic and aluminum, IIRC. They're just not as durable, or repairable as the older steel and copper radiators. Your best bet is to replace it.

Posted: 11/12/2009 7:11:59 PM EDT

[#12]

Plastic tank radiators have been cracking for years. Not a new concept. Easiest to replace than repair the tanks.

Posted: 11/13/2009 4:46:10 AM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:
Its VERY unusual for a radiator tank to fail. '02 Ram was probably designed and manufactured by either Behr or Denso (I know it wasn't Visteon), both of which make quality products. Most failures are tube failures or tube to header failures.

I'd go for a junk yard radiator and save your money.

Again, this is advice from a radiator design engineer. This is one topic that I give advice about that I really do know WTF I'm talking about!

K

Well, I sure can't explain it then. Looking at the part, there's no sign of any impacts that could have cracked it. It's not leaking on any seams, or ports. It' s not leaking anywhere that can be easily explained by improper welding or joining of separate components. Looking at it from the outside, it just looks like that particular area may have been molded too thin, and road vibration made it crack. Either way, I'm not sure that I'm comfortable using a part that may have come off the same line. SWMBO says she has enough put aside to pay for a new one, so I'll work it out somehow.

Thanks for your advice. This is what makes arfcom great!

Posted: 11/13/2009 4:49:52 AM EDT

[#14]

Just buy a new replacement one. They are not that expensive, especially when you figure a overheated engine would cost far more then the correct fix in the first place. Never go cheap on radiator repairs, it usually costs you far more in the long run when you do.

Posted: 11/13/2009 5:01:56 AM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:
Just buy a new replacement one. They are not that expensive, especially when you figure a overheated engine would cost far more then the correct fix in the first place. Never go cheap on radiator repairs, it usually costs you far more in the long run when you do.

Minds me of the time... my wife (just my girlfriend, back then) called me up on my cell at work one day. The conversation went something like this:

"Honey... the 'hot' light went on in my van."

"What's the temperature gauge say?"

"It's all the way over to the 'hot' side."

"So where are you? Was there a gas station close, or did you just have to pull over by the side of the road?"

"I was supposed to pull over?"

Block was still okay. Heads were totalled. She figured that the light and gauge were mostly just warning devices, and if it got really dangerous, van would shut down or something.

Posted: 11/13/2009 5:12:06 AM EDT

[#16]

Quoted:

Quoted:
I've got a Dodge Ram with a busted radiator. The crack is in the side tank, which is made outa plastic.

Is there any decent way to repair the plastic tank? Or do I have to pony up the $300-$400 for a whole new radiator?

Thanks!

I have seen people try to fix a plastic tank many times but I haven't seen it work.

And $300-400 doesn't seem right.
At stock unit should cost around $175-$200
What year is your truck?

It's a 2002. I got the $3-400 figure from a couple different websites. I'll have to call around to the parts stores. I'd think about getting a junker, but if the plastic on mine failed, I figure any used units will be just that much closer to their own failure point. Rather have new, since it doesn't look like SWMBO's gonna let me trade this truck in for a while...

Your right,stay away from junk yard rads.

Here's a brand new one for $239.00

Hereis the one I'm using in my truck for $159.00
It's alum. and about the same size as your stock unit (your's is 19x31 this is 19x30)
You would need to make brackets for it and if your have an automatic you'll need an aftermarket trans cooler

Posted: 11/13/2009 7:56:48 PM EDT

[#17]

Quoted:
Its VERY unusual for a radiator tank to fail. '02 Ram was probably designed and manufactured by either Behr or Denso (I know it wasn't Visteon), both of which make quality products. Most failures are tube failures or tube to header failures.

I'd go for a junk yard radiator and save your money.

Again, this is advice from a radiator design engineer. This is one topic that I give advice about that I really do know WTF I'm talking about!

K

Interesting - I've had two radiators with plastic tanks fail due to hairline cracks adjacent to the inlet hose neck (basically the area between the molded nipple and the tank flange/crimp - high temp/high cyclic stress is my guess). The first failure was my wife's '98 5.0 Explorer, second failure was my '97 Honda Civic EX.......

And, I too know a few things about heat exchanger design - 5 years of aerospace heat xfer.......

Brian

Posted: 11/13/2009 8:00:56 PM EDT

[#18]

Quoted:

Quoted:

Its VERY unusual for a radiator tank to fail. '02 Ram was probably designed and manufactured by either Behr or Denso (I know it wasn't Visteon), both of which make quality products. Most failures are tube failures or tube to header failures.

I'd go for a junk yard radiator and save your money.

Again, this is advice from a radiator design engineer. This is one topic that I give advice about that I really do know WTF I'm talking about!

K

Interesting - I've had two radiators with plastic tanks fail due to hairline cracks adjacent to the inlet hose neck (basically the area between the molded nipple and the tank flange/crimp - high temp/high cyclic stress is my guess). The first failure was my wife's '98 5.0 Explorer, second failure was my '97 Honda Civic EX.......

And, I too know a few things about heat exchanger design - 5 years of aerospace heat xfer.......

Brian

I have a radiator for a 96 Saturn SL2 in my garage. The plastic tank cracked near the transmission cooler inlet, not on the inlet, but in the main body of the tank, near it. According to a Saturn forum, they all crack there after 10-12 years.

Posted: 11/14/2009 6:00:44 AM EDT

[#19]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Its VERY unusual for a radiator tank to fail. '02 Ram was probably designed and manufactured by either Behr or Denso (I know it wasn't Visteon), both of which make quality products. Most failures are tube failures or tube to header failures.

I'd go for a junk yard radiator and save your money.

Again, this is advice from a radiator design engineer. This is one topic that I give advice about that I really do know WTF I'm talking about!

K

Interesting - I've had two radiators with plastic tanks fail due to hairline cracks adjacent to the inlet hose neck (basically the area between the molded nipple and the tank flange/crimp - high temp/high cyclic stress is my guess). The first failure was my wife's '98 5.0 Explorer, second failure was my '97 Honda Civic EX.......

And, I too know a few things about heat exchanger design - 5 years of aerospace heat xfer.......

Brian

I have a radiator for a 96 Saturn SL2 in my garage. The plastic tank cracked near the transmission cooler inlet, not on the inlet, but in the main body of the tank, near it. According to a Saturn forum, they all crack there after 10-12 years.

I miss the old days when you could solder the crap out of them and they would just keep on going. The entire world's economy seems to have shifted away from "make good quality that can be repaired and last a lifetime" to "make shit that has to be thrown away after a couple years."

Posted: 11/14/2009 7:25:03 AM EDT

[#20]

lighter, cheaper shittier.

Posted: 11/17/2009 7:08:17 AM EDT

[#21]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Its VERY unusual for a radiator tank to fail. '02 Ram was probably designed and manufactured by either Behr or Denso (I know it wasn't Visteon), both of which make quality products. Most failures are tube failures or tube to header failures.

I'd go for a junk yard radiator and save your money.

Again, this is advice from a radiator design engineer. This is one topic that I give advice about that I really do know WTF I'm talking about!

K

Interesting - I've had two radiators with plastic tanks fail due to hairline cracks adjacent to the inlet hose neck (basically the area between the molded nipple and the tank flange/crimp - high temp/high cyclic stress is my guess). The first failure was my wife's '98 5.0 Explorer, second failure was my '97 Honda Civic EX.......

And, I too know a few things about heat exchanger design - 5 years of aerospace heat xfer.......

Brian

I have a radiator for a 96 Saturn SL2 in my garage. The plastic tank cracked near the transmission cooler inlet, not on the inlet, but in the main body of the tank, near it. According to a Saturn forum, they all crack there after 10-12 years.

OK, how about the failures that we got from dealer returns for warranty work? Its VERY unusual for a tank failure under the warranty period!

K

Posted: 11/17/2009 7:12:26 AM EDT

[#22]

Quoted:

Quoted:
I've got a Dodge Ram with a busted radiator. The crack is in the side tank, which is made outa plastic.

Is there any decent way to repair the plastic tank? Or do I have to pony up the $300-$400 for a whole new radiator?

Thanks!

I have seen people try to fix a plastic tank many times but I haven't seen it work.

And $300-400 doesn't seem right.
At stock unit should cost around $175-$200
What year is your truck?

Not long ago I put a new rad in my brother's 04 GMC 3500. I got it from NAPA at dealer cost, which was $200. List was $380.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Plastic radiator tank repair?

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