Radiator leak, engine running cool

[NorCal60]

I need to know if I'm a dumb ass???

Here goes, I'm about 3 miles down the road from work on my way home when I see steam coming out from the drivers side and notice the temp. gauge is spiking.......I immediatley pull over and shut her down.

Steam is shooting out the coolant reservoir and a 1 inch crack on the top front drivers side of the radiator, no biggie! So after she cooled down I drove her across the road to a business(closed), called Jerel(co-worker) to come meet me in case I need a ride, found a water tap and filled up the radiator w/ about 2 gallons and ran the engine while waiting for said co-worker. No leaking, no steam, no nada!!!

So I risked driving the remaining 18 miles home while Jerel followed, no problems at all. I did notice the engine running cooler during the drive on I-5.

My question is:
1. Does the engine run cooler with more water than coolant in the engine?

2. What is the right coolant/water mixture?

3. Who's got the best radiator for the least money?

4. Should I have really risked the drive home???

 

[TheGr8Doughboy]

Cooler or cold? You could have had so little water in the system that it was not passing the temp sensor...

 

[meigsrock]

Response to your questions:

1. Does the engine run cooler with more water than coolant in the engine?

I do not think so, but you can not run straight antifreeze or it will boil and evaporate at temp.

The water keeps the antifreeze from boiling and the antifreeze keeps the water from freezing.

2. What is the right coolant/water mixture?

usually about 50/50 mix and you can buy it pre mixed for the same as undiluted if you are a dumb ass and like to pay $4 extra for 1/2 gallon of water.

Buy a radiator antifreeze tester.

you may want to add more antifreeze if you live some where cold.


3. Who's got the best radiator for the least money?

if the crack is on the top of the radiator it could probably be fixed for much much less. If not try to find a used one. all the aftermarket alum. rads. I have seen run about $400

4. Should I have really risked the drive home???

If you had it full of water and watched the gauge and had no problems then you should be OK. BUT I have pulled over when overheating an engine, waited until it cooled and tried to get it back home (2-3 miles or less and overheated again). I warped the head. I don't know if it happened the first time or the second time but the head ended up warped.

I think all auto manufactures should make a warning buzzer once you engine hits a certain temp.

If you could have best to tow it home, but It just depends.

good luck.

 

[Cruisin'Carolina]

I just bought a radiator online for $225 plus shipping from PerformanceRadiator.com

Many here have used them, that is why I bought it.

Take it out yourself, pm me if you need direction, I'm no mechanic but can give you a run down that will save you some time. Take it to see if it can be fixed, if not, order a new one and be done with it in two days.

 

[2mbb]

If you've got the time, it might be cheaper to take the radiator out and have it fixed at a local radiator shop. I did that with mine. Cost me about $150, and it's been good for about eight years now. Find a place that's been in business for a long time, or ask at your local parts store for recommendations. Also, if something goes wrong within the warrantee period, it's a local shop, so they might be easier to deal with.

 

[NorCal60]

Thanks....

Guy's, always good to get some feedback!

I'll be calling some repair shops first thing AM when they open.

Thanks CC for for the directions offer! I'm pretty mechanically inclined but short on tool support and repair facilities, but if I do replace the radiator it shouldn't be any more than a job! I also got all the FSM's a few months back.

Thanks Gr8t D, I didn't even think about the fluid level being too low for the sensor to pick up.

Thanks for the support Meigsrock! Sorry about the warped head though, I did that to a '73 Mustang w/ a 351c back in the day.

Thanks again, Tom

 

[NorCal60]

If you've got the time, it might be cheaper to take the radiator out and have it fixed at a local radiator shop. I did that with mine. Cost me about $150, and it's been good for about eight years now. Find a place that's been in business for a long time, or ask at your local parts store for recommendations. Also, if something goes wrong within the warrantee period, it's a local shop, so they might be easier to deal with.

Thanks 2mbb! Stockton has some well established radiator shops. I'll just take the day off from work and get 'er done first thing tomorrow!

Now who wants to buy Iggy some new springs!