Radweld - Good or bad?

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will - 30 Mar 2007 19:47 GMT

Have a slight leak in my radiator (mk2 golf GL) most likely due to a
bit of corrosion. When the engine is hot and there is pressure in the
coolant system, then it pisses out of the hole and after around 2
trips I'm left having to refill the coolant system.
If I use radweld, would I be shooting myself in the foot over the
potential £60 saving?
Should I just take the hit and get a new radiator?

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AndyR - 31 Mar 2007 08:22 GMT

Get a new rad!

I always look on radweld as a 'get you home' type of thing. It will stop the
leak by blocking that particular 'fin' of the rad, it only needs 2 fins to
block and you could be looking at trouble, overheating etc.
If its as bad as you say, then the rest of the rad could go at any time!!!

You know it makes sense... :o)

AndyR
Ex VR6 now Bora PD150

Have a slight leak in my radiator (mk2 golf GL) most likely due to a
bit of corrosion. When the engine is hot and there is pressure in the
coolant system, then it pisses out of the hole and after around 2
trips I'm left having to refill the coolant system.
If I use radweld, would I be shooting myself in the foot over the
potential £60 saving?
Should I just take the hit and get a new radiator?

Reply to this Message

J. - 31 Mar 2007 12:24 GMT

>Get a new rad!
>
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>AndyR
>Ex VR6 now Bora PD150

You might look to see if there is a local radiator expert firm who repair
them. I had a triumph rad recored (and more efficiently) for less than the
cost of a new one.

J.

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Chris Bartram - 31 Mar 2007 13:50 GMT

> Have a slight leak in my radiator (mk2 golf GL) most likely due to a
> bit of corrosion. When the engine is hot and there is pressure in the
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> potential £60 saving?
> Should I just take the hit and get a new radiator?

Get a new rad. It will probably pack in completely soon anyway.

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Nick Ramsay - 02 Apr 2007 12:52 GMT

>Have a slight leak in my radiator (mk2 golf GL) most likely due to a
>bit of corrosion. When the engine is hot and there is pressure in the
>coolant system, then it pisses out of the hole and after around 2
>trips I'm left having to refill the coolant system.
>If I use radweld, would I be shooting myself in the foot over the
>potential £60 saving?

Radweld is evil - it blocks up the small waterways and will cause
overheating damage over the long-term. Fine if you just wanted to fix
& sell (dodgy car-dealer past coming back to haunt me here!), but
useless if the car is a keeper. It will fail again in the future
anyway - usually at the most inconvenient time.

>Should I just take the hit and get a new radiator?

Yes.

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Phil Newnham - 02 Apr 2007 17:38 GMT

>> Should I just take the hit and get a new radiator?
>
> Yes.

On a related subject... any idea how easy it is to change the radiator
on a mk4 Golf (2l GTI)? I've been told that you have to remove the front
of the car, but am I right in assuming that that's just time consuming
rather than especially difficult? I will obviously get hold of a Haynes
manual before beginning disassembly, I was just wondering if any of you
guys have tried this, or if you just take it to your favourite mechanic.

Signature

Phil

http://www.usefilm.com/photographer/31307.html

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will - 26 Apr 2007 19:56 GMT

> >Have a slight leak in my radiator (mk2 golf GL) most likely due to a
> >bit of corrosion. When the engine is hot and there is pressure in the
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>
> Yes.

I got a new radiator. Removing the primary source of coolant leakage
meant that the pressure in the system caused coolant to leak out of
another weakspot in the water pump! Just replaced that too...

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