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#1
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Cracked Radiator
I just found a horizontal crack near the top of my radiator . . . I have a few questions:
1) Has anyone been in contact with PWR recently? Did they get a new batch of radiators in yet? 2) Does anyone know what type of plastic our radiators are made from? I've done some searching outside of our forum on repairing plastic radiator tanks. Apparently, there has been some success using PVC pipe solvent. Has anyone heard of this or tried it on our radiators? 3) JB Weld? People (not selling the product) have claimed it was still holding tight three years later when they finally got around to replacing their radiators. Thanks, Dan |
#2
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PVC adhesive is good for joining not repairing. The two surfaces must have total contact with each other. It does not fill gaps. PVC adhesive fuses the plastics together. It's geat on PVC pipes but I don't know if it is good on plastic radiators.
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#3
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I had good luck with magnum steel for patching radiators.
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Matt Locker Link 2015 BRZ Limited 6MT 92 Ebony LS-L ECUtune Stage2av1, Z32 MAF, 370cc injectors, TomsSVX intake, BontragerWorks 22mm RSB #003, HID Hi and Lo beams, OT endlink and bushing mods, PWR Aluminum radiator, Harvey's QC shift kit, 2.5" flowmaster 80 exhaust, 17" Michelin Pilot Sport A/S, Poly sway bar bushings, Slotted Bradi rotors, AFBeefcake powdercoated calipers, 97 grill, and a huge set of air horns. 300,000 miles and counting 92 Ebony LS-L. ecutune stage1v4, motorsport 1pc pulley. Garage Queen - sold to Dad in upstate NY 155,000 miles 19 Subaru Ascent Premium - -Hers !. 89 DL 4x4 little red wagon - a.k.a. The immortal suby. 275k R.I.P. |
#4
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Ebay
Quote:
Lee
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SVXx2 92 SVX LS-L Silver 92 SVX LS-L Burgundy (structurally challenged with 2792 miles) 96 SVX LSi Red 92 SVX LS Pearl (Parts) 01 F150 4X4 Red (+6 with other members of the family) FREEDOM IS NOT FREE |
#5
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For those of you who have had radiator failure while driving, does the temperature gauge move from its fairly horizontal position when you start to overheat?
I have to drive to work two more days before I have a day off to repair/replace my radiator. So far in each of the days since I found the crack, I've only had to top off the radiator with about a cup of water each day I drove it. Dan |
#6
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I just bought a radiator direct from PWR this last week. A simple phone call and it was on it's way in one business day.
Until you get a new rad, clean the crack, sand it down, and JB Weld it thouroughly. I used plastic epoxy which proved to be troublesome, but as long as I keep the coolant toppped of ther eis no overheating. The smell and vapor is driving me nuts however. --- DO NOT BUY FROM EBAY. That PWR "distributor" does not make attempts to communicate, and I've spoken with on emember here that did not receive his radiator from that seller.
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"That which can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence." '92 Dark Teal SVX LS-L, >146,000m 3 pedals, 5 speeds., restoration underway. 2012 Honda Insight, slow but cute. |
#7
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Quote:
Any sort of adhesive product should be considered a temporary repair. The cost of a new radiator is a small price to pay for being freed from the worry of how long the "fix" is going to hold. dcb |
#8
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Believe me, I love my SVXi way too much to leave a band-aid on for too long!
I'm still hoping to hear from someone who can tell me if their temperature gauge moved beyond the normal horizontal position when their radiator blew. I have a cell phone and AAA if I start to see anything going the wrong way . . . Dan |
#9
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gauge movement
I can confirm that when the car is low on coolant the gauge will move upwards. That's how I found that I had a leak in one of my radiators.
Incidentally, I repaired that radiator with a two part plastic epoxy that I got at a local auto parts place. I don't know what brand or model it was though. I made that repair back in '03 at some point and it's still holding. If I could afford $400 or $500 for a new radiator I'd put one in, but I really can't so I'll keep using it until it lets go. The repair wasn't from the typical top tank crack though. It was a puncture in the bulge near the lower hose that I aquired by bottoming out on something while backing up. The hose clamp got pushed into the plastic and made a hole. Jay
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Speed Safely Subaru, All We'll Drive Black '92 LSl 270Kmi 5MT (W00t! for 1/4 million on 4/27/07) Laguna Blue '94 L about 130Kmi (I think) for parts, in storage previous: Green '92 LSl 253Kmi 5MT (sold to ron post moose adventure, sold to someone else) previous: Maroon '92 LSl 130Kmi +- (sold to Ron, mashed by moose, crushed) Black '89 XT6 5spd AWD (storage) |
#10
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guages
when my radiator cracked I didnt get any movement from the temp guage but it wasnt really low. The only time it moved is when my water pump failed and it shot up faster than I could watch it.
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Eric Rebuilt P/S pump info... http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/showthread.php?t=50918 If your car wont start info... http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/show...ighlight=click |
#11
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Quote:
Don't think it can't happen. I didn't think it would hurt it either.
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Robert Is Bush in jail yet? (Looks frantically at watch, then back up) How about now? Now? Come onnnnnn...... Someone freeze me until January, this wait is killing me. Update: 09 January, and still not in jail! Wassup?? 1992 Teal LS-L - 160k (Now new and improved with perfect paint!) |
#12
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Quote:
But I didn't have a cracked radiator - my problem was head gaskets. To recap, I had never had any trouble with overheating since we got the car so I wasn't paying close attention to the temp guage. I was going about 160km/hr on the autobahn (almost 100 mph) when I realized that my guage was already up at the 3/4 mark and still going up rapidly! I got into the right lane, slowed down, and just as I was on the off-ramp to the rest area, my radiator blew up. Clouds of steam and quite "exciting" for my 15-year old niece who thought the whole car was about to blow up. We replaced the radiator with a brand new one at a Subaru dealer, but the gauge would still start creeping up after driving for a while. The stupid dealer refused to consider head gaskets, but that's another story. I finally had the whole car overhauled, and it has been great ever since. (knock on wood!) Don't know if this really answers your question, but at least it's an interesting story to tell: How I managed to blow up my car |
#13
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Quote:
Course I also pop the hood if the fog starts rolling in, and pop it every day in the garage.
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"That which can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence." '92 Dark Teal SVX LS-L, >146,000m 3 pedals, 5 speeds., restoration underway. 2012 Honda Insight, slow but cute. |
#14
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Plastic radiators CAN be repaired
The key is to drain the system, get the inside surfaces dry. Then take a Dremel and drill holes at the ends of the crack (which tends to keep it from expanding), then run a cutter down the entire length of the crack to give you sufficient room for the repair material to "mushroom" out BEHIND the crack. In this way the pressure inside the radiator tends to keep the repair material in place.
If you can wipe the surfaces (interior & exterior) with alchohol (I've used right angled pliers to hold a Q-Tip) and then a hair dryer to warm the surfaces, JB Weld &/or the green epoxy radiator repair plugs you knead and then push through the enlarged crack can hold very well and for a long time. When done right, JB Weld is often stronger than the material it is being used to repair. I never had an overheating problem nor any high gauge readings: just a little steam and a drip of anti-freeze. Like most repairs of this type, the time spent on proper prep of the surfaces can make all the difference as to the effectiveness of the repair. The last time I fixed my original radiator as above the repair lasted: unfortunatly I had already ordered a factory replacement right before the new aluminum rads hit this board. If this one lasts another 120K I'll buy a new improved one. Gladly! Cheers!
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' 92 SVX @ 185K ' 91 420SEL @ 223K! ' 88 420SEL I. @ 178K (what a buy!) ' 87 F250 @ 180K ' 93 ZX-11D @ 29K ' 93 SC400 @ 93K 2001 Valkyrie Interstate @ 6.6K (Brynhild) Y2K NightHawk 250 @ 1,500 miles ' 88 420SEL II. @ 208K '85 F150 @ 135K |
#15
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I installed my band-aid today. I went to the store for some JB Weld and bought a Permatex Radiator Repair Kit instead. The kit is very complete and has a much shorter curing time than JB Weld. One drawback is that it's a one time use product.
The kit includes fine sand paper for cleaning/roughing up the surface and an alcohol wipe for final cleaning. After you've prepped the area with the included materials, you cut a piece of fiberglass mesh (included) to size. Mix up the two part epoxy resin in its plastic bag, cut off the end of the bag and spread some of the epoxy on the crack. Apply the fiberglass mesh and cover with the rest of the epoxy. Use the supplied brush to make sure everything is smoothed out nicely. Then wait about 30 minutes to cure. The only thing not in the kit was scissors to cut the fiberglass and open the plastic bag of mixed epoxy. My PWR radiator is on its way . . . $500 shipped. Dan |
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