Very often the reason for engine boiling and overheating is an insufficient amount of coolant. And the reason for this, in turn, may be the formed leak in the radiator. Such a radiator should be replaced, but this cannot always be done quickly. To temporarily eliminate the leak, there are several methods that help to calmly hold out until the moment of replacement.
Necessary
- - compressor;
- - polymer sealant;
- - epoxy glue and fiberglass;
- - soldering iron, solder;
- - rubber, clamps, vulcanizer.
Instructions
Step 1
Examine the top of the radiator. Leaks often appear in this place and are formed as a result of cracking of the plastic parts of the radiator, near the attachment points of the diffuser and the bracket that supports the accelerator cables. A sufficiently large crack can be “highlighted” by antifreeze color pigment. If you find such spots on the surface of the engine, look for a leak in the pump or thermostat gasket. If there is a smell of antifreeze in the cabin, and the glasses are sweating, inspect the heater radiator. If coolant enters the passenger compartment, there may be leaks in the radiator pipes and the heater tap.
Step 2
If a radiator leak occurs, but it is difficult to visually detect it, arm yourself with a compressor. Remove the radiator and plug all the holes on it except one. Connect a pump to this port and lower the radiator into a tub of water. After turning on the compressor, find the place of leakage by looking at the air bubbles.
Step 3
Remember the old advice of experienced chauffeurs - treat a leaking radiator with dry mustard by adding it to the coolant. In fact, this method has a significant drawback - mustard powder accumulates in lumps and clogs the pipes of the cooling system. A similar, but more modern method involves the use of a specialized sealant. Purchase a curing sealant for repairing radiators and cooling systems.
Step 4
The technology is simple and affordable: add the product to the radiator according to the instructions on the can, start the engine and warm it up at idle speed. All leaks will heal by themselves. Advice one: do not buy powdered sealants. The correct product should look like a stationery glue with a uniform consistency. Advice two: if the detected leak is located on the radiator pipes, before repairing, squeeze them with a tool above and below the leak to reduce the cracks. This repair method is carried out without removing the radiator, but it is useless for removing large cracks and cracks.
Step 5
Cover the aluminum radiator. To do this, drain the antifreeze from the radiator and remove it from the vehicle. Rinse with high pressure plain water. Dry the radiator thoroughly and degrease the damaged area. After that, cover the crack with epoxy glue (cold welding), dry for 3-5 hours and reinstall the radiator. For a good bond, use two-component epoxy adhesives. If the leak is larger than 1 cm, apply a fiberglass patch and glue it with epoxy glue. Be sure to carry out several layers of fiberglass, separately gluing and drying each layer. Carefully expel air bubbles when gluing.
Step 6
Repair the copper heat sink by soldering or welding. For soldering, use either a special soldering iron with a power of at least 250 W, or a copper soldering iron of high heat capacity that can be heated with a blowtorch. To do this, heat the surface of the radiator to be repaired and apply a layer of molten solder on it. This method is rather laborious and complicated, and is not recommended in the absence of experience in soldering or welding.
Step 7
Replace leaking rubber hoses. If it is not possible to do this, cut out a piece of rubber and close the puncture gap by clamping it with a clamp over the leak. In this case, do not use Chinese-made clamps - they will not provide the required crimping force. Eliminate large gaps with damp rubber and vulcanizer.
