Radiator, Quick Question Options

[6G96GT]

My radiator leaks at the very top from worn stress cracks (very tiny amount) so I ordered a new one. Here's the question. If I loosen the cap just one click, will that drop the pressure a bit so I can run the car without leaking and also without spraying coolant everywhere or is this a stupid question?

[xrav22]

[quote name='6G96GT' date='Apr 11, 2009 - 1:17 PM' post='767494']
My radiator leaks at the very top from worn stress cracks (very tiny amount) so I ordered a new one. Here's the question. If I loosen the cap just one click, will that drop the pressure a bit so I can run the car without leaking and also without spraying coolant everywhere or is this a stupid question?
[/quote

You need to park the car until you get a new radiator. Do not ever loosen the cap. What will happen is when you rev the engine the water
will spill out or squirt all over. I just replaced mine it was easy. Just make sure you get it in the little circles down at the bottom.

That radiator has a chance to explode in that condition. Mine was just seeping right thru and I was lucky I made it home.
Sorry for the bad news.

[Spider77]

Yeah, you pretty much need a new rad if its leaking. Depending on how bad it leaks, you can buy a rad patch kit, which is a temp fix. I've used the permatex stuff, and it held the rad together. But I did get a new one as soon as I could.

[Bitter]

DO NOT USE ANY STOPLEAK PRODUCTS, YOU'LL HAVE NIGHTMARES LATER ON WHEN YOUR HEATER CORE CLOGS UP.

[Spider77]

Just incase there might be any confusion. The product I used was not anything you dumped into the radiator. It was pretty much like Mighty Putty (...another fantastic product). I strongly agree with bitter, dont dump any "stop leak" stuff into your radiator under any circumstance.

[Ryouxrs]

X3!!!

[6G96GT]

Alright, so yesterday my brother and I replaced my 'manual trans' celica with an 'auto trans' radiator which had the tranny lines at the bottom. I ordered it and realized it was for an auto and not my manual and I figured since the lines aren't going to be used anyway, what's the real difference? We installed it and I drove about 30 miles between last night and today and had zero probs and no leaks. So I am good right?

Oh yeah, when I fought to get off the old pass-side radiator top bracket, the bolt stripped so we had to cut it and I ended up gouging the paint on the car where the bracket bolts down. What should I do about that?

This post has been edited by 6G96GT: Apr 13, 2009 - 2:40 PM

[Bitter]

auto rad is fine, its actually beefier and can dump away more heat.

just get some sand paper and clean the area and spray it with some spray paint well to stave off rust.

[6G96GT]

will do, thanks