STORM 2 0 Posted May 17, 2012 I had the front end off to fit a new crack pipe and remedy an oil leak from the oil cooler over the weekend. Just filled up with new coolant and I get a (intermittent) leak from the strangest of places, the slot where the passenger side radiator mount goes. Pic one is with the mount on - have put in back in incorrectly, thus causing the leak? Ultimately looks like a new radiator, but I'm going to bung some high temp sealant in there as a temp fix. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fla 9 Posted May 17, 2012 cant quite see teh leak properly. Give it a clean up and athen after fitting everything cover the area with talc and then run the engine. You'll see exactly where its coming from via the fluid trails in the powder. Might just be the o-ring seal on the rad neck thats perished. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Critical_Mass 10 Posted May 17, 2012 I would say the O ring and the elbow, which are known to leak due to age. Its an odd place for a rad to leak, not impossible, just id say unlikely. Be prepared, if you tkae the elbow off youd be best having a replacement O ring, even a new elbow if its cracked. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
STORM 2 0 Posted May 17, 2012 Its actually coming from within the slot itself - I must have cracked the elbow or the plastic radiator column itself when tapping in the rad mount. I filled the slot with high temp silicone and inserted the mount. If it does the job I'll leave it until I can get a new radiator before shelling out another £20 on coolant! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin Bacon 5 Posted May 17, 2012 Yeah you've cracked the end tank. Silicon won't cure that I'm afraid. Don't forget coolant is under pressure and anything you fill the crack with will just blow out. If you had to tap the L shaped bracket in, that's the problem. It clearly stretched and fractured the plastic. The bracket should just slide in without undue force. Has the bracked rusted? What usually happens is the bracket rusts, expands, then cracks the plastic. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jon_vr6 1 Posted May 17, 2012 ^^ So true, good luck getting the replacement rad elbow to fit aswell, the bolts notoriously seize inside the brass holder and when you try to undo it breaks the plastic resulting in you needing a new radiator, so be warned and careful when undoing the bolts Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
daves16v 1 Posted May 17, 2012 So everyone should have Stainless rad brackets before this happens to them ;) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Critical_Mass 10 Posted May 17, 2012 Indeed Dave........ any update on the sit? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
daves16v 1 Posted May 17, 2012 Indeed Dave........ any update on the sit? sit ?? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nathan Harvey 10 Posted May 17, 2012 Dude if you do replace your rad i've seen a new elbow with seal on the bay item no 110865272567 , cos your old one will prob be shagged and its cheaper than a Gruven one . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Critical_Mass 10 Posted May 17, 2012 sit ?? sorry i was trying to be down with the kids. i meant situation :lol: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
daves16v 1 Posted May 17, 2012 sorry i was trying to be down with the kids. i meant situation :lol: Gaz, sorry mate got lots of sits going on, which one do you mean? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
STORM 2 0 Posted May 18, 2012 Update - the elbow is also shagged and the screwholes on the radiator column the elbow attaches to have split so the bolts spin in the thread. So it looks like a new radiator... Any advice on original vs replacement part? KEV - you're bang on - the rad bracket had thickened twice its normal thickness due to corrosion thus damaging the elbow. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nathan Harvey 10 Posted May 18, 2012 (edited) Update - the elbow is also shagged and the screwholes on the radiator column the elbow attaches to have split so the bolts spin in the thread. So it looks like a new radiator... Any advice on original vs replacement part? KEV - you're bang on - the rad bracket had thickened twice its normal thickness due to corrosion thus damaging the elbow. Dude one the first page i gave you a ebay item number for a new elbow with seal, i replaced my rad with one from gsf , its been in 7 months no problems . Edited May 18, 2012 by Nathan Harvey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
STORM 2 0 Posted May 20, 2012 Thanks Nathan but I've got to source a new radiator first and then I'll probably go with the billeted aluminium elbow from GAP so the bas***d doesn't give me grief in the next 40 years. VW design means that damage to the plastic part of the radiator column means a whole new radiator..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nathan Harvey 10 Posted May 20, 2012 To be fair once I got the rad from gsf which wasn't that expensive I bought a gruven elbow cost £80 but it's gonna out last the car ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Bowen 1 Posted November 12, 2012 Mine is leaking from same place, i hope its just my o-ring, as i have a nearly new VW rad, and the gruvenparts elbow etc, also quite new, the brackets are the stainless one too. Going to take it apart and check it out, is the oring just a normal round one? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OllieVR6 0 Posted November 12, 2012 Going to take it apart and check it out, is the oring just a normal round one? No, they are flat, but a round one should do the job (so I'm told..literally just fitted a normal one myself). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
