My coolant problems.....also Pinhole in Radiator.

Disco 2 td5.

While taking off the auxilliary belt the spanner slipped backwards and hit the radiator putting a pin hole in one of the aluminium cross bars that all the fins stick out of.



A steady stream of coolant came out like if you pierces a can of beer. I left it for a while then it stopped as if the hole was clogged.

Is there anyway to seal this hole for good as i suspect its letting air into the coolant system. The aluminium slats are so soft you can nearly squeeze the hole closed with your fingers??

Anybody any recommendations? Surely there is a way other than buying a new radiator.


Although i suspect I may have bigger coolant problems. like a major leak.


Symptoms:

Do a full coolant drain and refil topping up header tank, lifting it out and pouring in slowly until water comes out bleed hole on top hose.

Everything grand for a few days, heat coming out of heater no problems.

After a few days i hear coolant sloshing around pipes behind dash, noise is linked to accelerating and revs. Obviously coolant has escaped somewhere (prob hole in radiator)

Open the bonnet and header tank is empty, start to loosen header tank cap and a vacum release sound comes out and the header tank fills up with coolant nearly to the top itself.

top up header tank with coolant while raised 20cm and bleed hole open until system is full

repeat again in a few days.

This is really annoying me, no obvious leaks on any pipes.

I put http://www.milliput.com/ on a beemers radiator that had a hole just like you descibed, I put a little bit on with the rad still a bit warm, left it about half hour, started her up and got her to temp (10 mins idling) checked everything was still holding and took her for a gentle drive, eventually driving her a little harder until I was satisfied I could drive her normally and everything was still holding, it held for at least 5 years until I sold the car.

The trick was letting it set properly and not giving it much stick at 1st, give it too much at 1st or dont give it time to set and it will fail and you will have to do the job again.

Someone will probably come along and tell you the proper way to do it shortly but my way worked for me, and cost me about £3!

I used JB Weld on a Husky alum rad that I had knocked one of the tubes that the fins are attached to off the top chamber.
The beauty of this stuff is that you can thin it with meths and pour it into a former around the broken joint and then it sets like iron.
Lasted for 3 yrs before I sold the bike on with no qualms.

Make sure it is all very clean before you apply anything.
Milliput is good stuff too.

Picked up some JB Weld today for €9.90. Will try patch it up tomorrow as it needs 15 hours cure time.

Looks good though.