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Frustrating Radiator

General Tech Talk

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Frustrating Radiator

Post by Deleted User »

The radiator in my car keeps on splitting open just below the filler cap, on the top tank and therefor leaking when under pressure. I have repaired it 3 times useing Soft Solder, it but it keeps on splitting through the soft solder after about a week.
Could it be that I have the wrong pressure Filler Cap on the tank, so when the water heats up and it needs somewhere to escape to, the easiest way is through the side of the worn tank ????

Any ideas would be appreciated.
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Post by J Top »

What vehicle type? Hiluxs have a header tank failure fault which requires the tanks replaced.
J Top
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Post by MissDrew »

J Top wrote:What vehicle type? Hiluxs have a header tank failure fault which requires the tanks replaced.
J Top
Had mine for 9 years and never had a problem with it.
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RAY185
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Post by RAY185 »

I think its a good sign that the brass tank is just not up to it anymore. Time for a new top tank.
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Post by 360 scout »

what soft solder are you using from memory there's 2 50/50 tin lead (plumbers solder) or 60/40 which is stronger.
I think I'm correct :?
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Post by Deleted User »

360 scout wrote:what soft solder are you using from memory there's 2 50/50 tin lead (plumbers solder) or 60/40 which is stronger.
I think I'm correct :?

Im sure its the 60/40 solder. Its my dads solder. He was a Plumber and said the 60/40 was stronger than 50/50 also.

The car is a Mitsabushi Ute. ( My work truck)

Anyone have any idea what a Top tank is worth ?
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Post by -Scott- »

It's probably a differential expansion issue, and solder is just not strong enough to handle the shear stress.

I reckon a new tank is in order.

Scott
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Post by Ruffy »

You should get a tank replaced and a clean for around 150 bucks if you pull it out yourself.
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Post by Deleted User »

Thanks for the reply`s fella`s, I will go and see the radiator bloke today.
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Post by Deleted User »

Well, I had it fixed yesterday. I took the radiator out of the car and took it into them. They removed and re-soldered the Filler Cap assembly. Cost -- $60-00 which included about 400ml or radiator fluid.

I was told that there seems to have been a lot of pressure build up in the radiator. They questioned weather the thermostat was working properly.
They said I might need to replace the thermostat.

I`ll see how it goes.
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Post by dumbdunce »

Guts wrote:
J Top wrote:What vehicle type? Hiluxs have a header tank failure fault which requires the tanks replaced.
J Top
Had mine for 9 years and never had a problem with it.
8 out of 9 years in the shed does not count
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Post by MissDrew »

dumbdunce wrote:
Guts wrote:
J Top wrote:What vehicle type? Hiluxs have a header tank failure fault which requires the tanks replaced.
J Top
Had mine for 9 years and never had a problem with it.
8 out of 9 years in the shed does not count
2 of 9 years in the shed.

The hilux used to be my work truck and did approx 50,000ks a year.
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Post by jcclures »

If it was me, I would check the cylinder head, the pressure seems to be high if you keep splitting top tanks. Most good radiator people have a tester to test if the cylinder head is the cylinder head is leaking into the radiator. This test can find small leaks by testing for exhaust gases in the water, often long before other problems arise.
You could also test the thermostat by removing it and then bring it to the boil it on the stove, use a thermometer and watch when it opens. I think it should open around 84 degrees.

John
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