1991 Legacy LS non-turbo radiator leak

[szymon]

Hi guys,

 

My radiator is leaking. The leak seems to be under one of the top radiator brackets, under the upper cushion. The bracket is bent a bit upwards and the cushion seems to be popped out of place. All the engine parts and the hood in proximity to that bracket are covered in coolant. It seems like at least some of the coolant if not all of it is getting sprayed generally in upward direction and coolant drips down the bottom of the hood.

 

My guess is that the mounting bracket and the upper cushion are solely a part of the mounting system and are not under pressure of expanding hot coolant. Am I right? If I am, that means that the leak just happens to be somewhere under the rad bracket and simply replacing the bracket and cushion won't help, right? Is the only solution to replace the whole radiator?

 

Any help is well appreciated.

[Manarius]

Assuming it's like the SVX radiator then no. You need to either replace the whole radiator or try to patch the crack with some sort of heavy duty sealer.

[wtdash]

Correct - The brackets only hold the radiator in place. Time for a repair or replace.

 

It might be worth it to rinse the area off, and making sure you're properly protected, see where it's leaking w/the car running. On the non-turbos the cooling system is pretty basic, so it shouldn't be too hard to find a leak.

 

GL,

TD

[idosubaru]

make sure it's not something simple like a hose or the cap spraying long distance and misleading you.

 

otherwise sounds like you need a new radiator. radiatorbarn has some EJ radiators for only like $80 total shipped to your door.

 

you can attempt a repair as long as you don't let it run low or hot at all. if the repair doesn't work, so what just get another radiator. i'd recommend some high grade plastic epoxy, that stuff is awesome. way better than JB weld. i wouldn't put much effort into repair given the low cost of new and age - it's probably partially clogged anyway at this point.