Plastic radiator repair

hooknline

I got a hairline crack about 1/2 inch long in the top plastic part of my radiator. Wallowed out the crack and cleaned it inside and out with rubbing alcohol. Luckily its next to the neck of the upper hose and easy to get to.
Does anyone think that 5200 will hold if used inside and out? Regular cure not fast cure. Tia

hewes18

I'd try JB Weld

hooknline

Too brittle. That stuff cracks too easy. Although if the 5200 doesnt work i probably will try it

Germ

jb weld, but it will only be a temp fix no matter what you do. Plan on replacing

wizfisher

Don't know if it can be done for this type of repair, but there are ways to weld with plastic. I know it can be done to kayaks so it may work. You basically heat a plastic stick and whatever you want to fix and weld them together. There may even be somewhere that can do it for you?

gandrfab

How about a 2 part epoxy. I don't think the 5200 will hold up to the heat, I use heat (and not a lot of it) to remove 5200 mounted parts on boats.

hooknline

Tried a 2 part epoxy already and jb is also a 2 part epoxy.
No go.
Tried melting a zip tie( same type of plastic) into it.
No go
So now on to better goop from both sides.
Radiator is about 500 bucks because its a 04 f250
And i dont want to spend the jack right now

gandrfab

<-- stumped :huh

wizfisher

hooknline wrote: »

Tried melting a zip tie( same type of plastic) into it.
No go

Just out of curiosity, but how do you know it's the same type of plastic? I still think the best repair would be a weld (I am far from an expert) with the same type of plastic.
Crazy how expensive those things are.

johnnyb

There are shops that can "weld" the cracks in plastic radiator tanks.

wizfisher

Did a quick toogle search and found this.

http://http://www.urethanesupply.com/radiator.php

Cane Pole

Sounds like a good test for that black plastic spray can stuff they sell on TV.

gandrfab

wizfisher wrote: »

Did a quick toogle search and found this.

http://http://www.urethanesupply.com/radiator.php

Do over

Griz

Could you use some fiberglass tape and resin?

wizfisher

Not trying to fix it while on the iPad. Do a search for plastic radiator repair and you will find something.

hooknline

Wiz. Server not found on your link.
I got 5200 on both sides of it now and ill let that cure till monday.
If it lets go again i may just go to harbor freight and pick up their plastic welding kit they sell. If that fails ill find a shop thatdoes the repair like jb says.
The radiator is on a 04 F250 so i guarantee its expensive
Id still like more opinions on the 5200 from both sides of the crack. Thx

gandrfab

How To Repair Plastic Radiator Tanks
http://urethanesupply.com/radiator.php

Found wizfisher's find.

spinfreak

I just did a quick search on eBay and there's tons of radiators for your truck that sell for around $100-120 brand new. Since they're so cheap, I didn't even bother to look further if there were any used ones selling for cheaper than that

hooknline

Me too.
Guess ill see if the 5200 holds and if it doesnt i have options.

hooknline

spinfreak wrote: »

I just did a quick search on eBay and there's tons of radiators for your truck that sell for around $100-120 brand new. Since they're so cheap, I didn't even bother to look further if there were any used ones selling for cheaper than that

Have you seen the inside of the engine bay on the diesel model? Its a nightmare in there. But if it comes to it i will pick up a new one

Germ

the radiator is empty when your doing this right?

Mackeral Snatcher

hooknline wrote: »

Me too.
Guess ill see if the 5200 holds and if it doesnt i have options.

Used it on my wife's jeep, lasted about a week, I think the heat breaks it down after awhile and it starts to leak again, so keep a good eye on it.
Either way we( and by "we" I mean the shop I stroked a check to:grin) just put a new one in and she was good to go again.

Bruce LB

I broke the **** off my 04 f250 radiator, JB weld has held so far. When you melted the zip tie did you also heat the radiator plastic up or just melt on top of cold?

hooknline

Up to the point of the crack yes.

hooknline

Heated everything up bruce

Indigo

Get
a
new
radiator.

JetBlast

MarineTex works every time.

BigTom

A good radiator shop can replace just the tank. Hard to repair because the heat makes the plastic brittle over time.

HialeahAngler

if that 5200 holds I'll give you $200. what are you thinking?

hooknline

Im thinking that id rather use the 200 towards a new radiator

Madpoodle

Most radiator shops refuse to touch them. As far as the aftermarket radiators, I went that route recently on my F350, and will be buying an OEM replacement soon. Besides the fact the aftermarket ones plastic components were way lighter then the OEM, the capacity was about 7 quarts less. The truck runs warmer now, not to the point of overheating, but enough so that I will junk this one I have now when I get some free time to change it out...