Found my constant coolant smell - Radiator leaking from top

[InFiD3ViL]

Have any of you had one of these radiators fail? After my engine swap I constantly have the smell of hot coolant. I recently washed under hood, the fan assembly, and radiator thinking it was spillage from when it was filled that lingering or cooking off hot parts. Nope.

Ran it to temp today and found this. It is hard to tell in the pics, but it is definitely a very slow leak along the passenger side top of radiator where the plastic top is crimped to the main body. It is right at that joint. I could see a very slow bubble at times.

Time for a new radiator I guess.

[CamaroBarb]

I personally would drop a couple GM sealing tabs into the system. They work great without making a mess. You could try crimping the tabs a bit more but If I remember I believe there is a gasket under that plastic tank that may have deteriorated from old coolant etc.

[DJ_BigC]

That’s the stupidest advice you could give someone. Might as well just take the radiator out and loop the upper and lower rad hose.. I remember reading somewhere that you gain a few extra HP from running the engine a little hotter.

Change the radiator and call it a day.. at least they are relatively easy to change in the Camaro. You can always have a certified radiator repair center take a peak at it and see if it’s cheaper to repair it.

[CamaroBarb]

Yeah its dumb enough nothing leaves the GM factory without the tabs in the coolant......




opps I didn't see you are a GM tech. I stand corrected, NOW I KNOW I"M RIGHT HAHA HA

[redcoats1976]

you arent going to fix one of these new half plastic radiators.just replace it and call it a day.

[hunter1660]

Time for an upgrade

[InFiD3ViL]

Yeah, I'm going to change it. This engine has 800 miles on it. I don't want any stop leak running through it. I'm sure it would be fine, but I am weird like that.
I mainly posted the pics for others that don't know that may be a possible failure/leak point.

No need to argue guys, it's Christmas. Wait until tomorrow lol.

[CamaroBarb]

The GM sealing tabs are number 1 though. Every engine GM spits out gets at least 2-4 depending on the vehicle. My old 98 Camaro 3800 had 6 tabs in it and it worked fine no clogging issues. Most dealers live by them if ya know what I'm saying hint hint


Actually you can buy the tank seal and tools to replace that tank, is it worth it....NO

[Aqua Blue RS/SS]

Originally Posted by CamaroBarb

The GM sealing tabs are number 1 though. Every engine GM spits out gets at least 2-4 depending on the vehicle. My old 98 Camaro 3800 had 6 tabs in it and it worked fine no clogging issues. Most dealers live by them if ya know what I'm saying hint hint


Actually you can buy the tank seal and tools to replace that tank, is it worth it....NO

That’s one more reason the dealer doesn’t touch my stuff...

[CamaroBarb]

Aluminum is porous if they didn't use them they would have constant coolant leaks internally. Its actually very safe, you wouldn't even know they were in there from looking at the coolant. What you may notice if there are small leaks that stopped are small areas that look white like something dripped there at some time. I use them in every time I change coolant. 1 tab per gal and GM recommends 6 per system believe it or not.

[InFiD3ViL]

Originally Posted by CamaroBarb

Aluminum is porous if they didn't use them they would have constant coolant leaks internally. Its actually very safe, you wouldn't even know they were in there from looking at the coolant. What you may notice if there are small leaks that stopped are small areas that look white like something dripped there at some time. I use them in every time I change coolant. 1 tab per gal and GM recommends 6 per system believe it or not.

Barb, this what you talking about?

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/n...waAkhoEALw_wcB

"Chevrolet Performance coolant system seal tablets are organically formulated and designed for use in radiator systems to seal or prevent leaks due to casting porosity in engine components.

Coolant system seal tablet details:

* Non-toxic
* DEX-COOL compatible
* Engine application is based on liters of volume in cooling system
* Formulated for automotive use"

To be honest, I have never seen these before. You learn something new every day.

[CamaroBarb]

Thats them, I've used them a very long time in every car I've owned. Saved alot of bs small repairs and heads off big repairs like leaky heater core before they become unsealable. I had a old TA that had a porous head, always used a small amount of coolant. I put 1 tab in and it never used a drop after and you could not tell it was in the coolant. Same with those plastic side tanks start seeping, 1 tab will probably seal it. Thing is GM puts them in every thing they make but when you flush the coolant you don't put them back in so you loose that protection. Cheap insurance and every dealer that knows anything swears by them , saves a lot of work fixing bs leaks.

[CamaroBarb]

250 reviews here https://www.amazon.com/Genuine-GM-12.../dp/B000QIH3C4

[Aqua Blue RS/SS]

Originally Posted by CamaroBarb

Aluminum is porous if they didn't use them they would have constant coolant leaks internally. Its actually very safe, you wouldn't even know they were in there from looking at the coolant. What you may notice if there are small leaks that stopped are small areas that look white like something dripped there at some time. I use them in every time I change coolant. 1 tab per gal and GM recommends 6 per system believe it or not.

I’m familiar with them, they first came out in the mid ‘80s if I’m not mistaken for the aluminum head tpi 350’s the vettes of the day had. I’ve used them before. No real harm was done when using them for me. What I was getting at is the fact that I could see a dealer monkey adding them in to “fix” a more serious problem.