DIY copper radiator repair

In detail: do-it-yourself repair of a copper radiator of a car from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.

If car radiator leakingthen most of us resort to replacing it. However, in most cases it is possible not to change, but repair radiator... Sometimes no skills are required, but sometimes it is impossible to do without knowledge in the field of welding or soldering. We learn to define the state and try restore the radiator with your own hands.

The most common problem when, due to old age, appears radiator leak... Coolant (coolant) runs out of the joints between metal and plastic, which automatically leads to overheating of the engine. It is not always possible to find a replacement radiator, and repairs will cost at least 2 times cheaper than a new one.

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Further we will talk about car radiators in general and it does not matter if it is a repair of a heater radiator, an air conditioner radiator or a radiator of the engine cooling system.

Chemistry radiator repair... Minor damages can be repaired with special products known on the market as radiator refurbishing fluid, radiator sealant, or powder reductants. The principle of operation is approximately the same: pour the radiator reductant into the engine cooling system (SOD). The resulting mixture will seal cracks when exposed to air.

Video demonstration of the operation of the liquid for the restoration of the radiator:

Chemistry is different from chemistry, therefore, it is impossible to answer for the quality of such a method as a whole. For example, a low-quality reductant may not help, but, on the contrary, harm it by clogging up the entire SOD. For example, the stove will stop heating and it will be necessary to flush the SOD or change the radiator of the stove. Better chemistry is able to eliminate radiator leakage only for a while (from several days to several months). In this way, radiator repair chemistry is only a temporary solution to the problem.

Repair honeycomb radiator can be a mixture of epoxy resin and hardener. Degrease and pour the substance into the damaged honeycomb and level it with a spatula. Now the holes in the radiator are 100% sealed.
In general, the folk method involves the use of many materials for sealing, I just showed the main ones. Whether this approach can be called a high-quality radiator repair, decide for yourself.

Video (click to play).

The following instruction assumes knowledge of basic welding and soldering skills.
To repair the radiator permanently, it must be removed, but before that, the coolant must be drained from it (described in detail in the article on cleaning the radiator). Now that the radiator is dismantled, we can determine its condition, whether the radiator can be repaired or replaced with a new one.

Repair the radiator by soldering... We clean the place that will be restored well and solder a piece of sheet brass (brass radiators). Here you need to resort to using a gas torch and a soldering iron.

If cracked radiator tubes, then it is better to replace them with new ones. We heat the solder until it becomes soft and take the tube out of the tank. In its place we solder a new one.The disadvantage of this method is the effect of high temperatures on the elements of the radiator, which leads to its internal deformation. Therefore, it is better to use argon arc welding (argon welding).

Radiator repair by argon welding... The filler material here is a special welded aluminum wire. Special equipment is indispensable here. It should be noted that places treated with argon will be protected from oxidation.
Repair of a radiator using gas-dynamic spraying... When a special powder is accelerated along the inside of the radiator at a very high speed, a 1-1.5mm thick coating forms on the damaged surface. It makes no sense to describe these two methods, because they cannot be done at home.

Video showing argon radiator repair:

Repair car radiator can be done in various ways, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages. In one case, there will be a short-term repair of the radiator, and in the other for a long time. If you doubt your abilities, then it is better to entrust the mission of restoring the radiator to specialists and argon welding. They will not only repair, but immediately clean the radiator and, if desired, install a brass tank.

If the radiator is damaged after a head-on collision of the car, then the repair will cost a pretty penny. It is more correct in this case to buy a new high-quality radiator.

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What method of radiator repair do you recommend?

The normal operation of the motor is influenced by many factors, including the correct operation of the cooling radiator. For example, a car is stuck in a traffic jam, the engine runs smoothly, and suddenly steam starts pouring out from under the hood of the car. Another case. In the cold season, the motorist suddenly wanted to turn on the stove. And then a breath of icy air was felt from the deflector, and the fuel began to be consumed much faster. A faulty radiator is the cause of these two phenomena. For this reason, it is necessary to try to identify its malfunctions in a timely manner and carry out high-quality repairs.

Among the options for a radiator breakdown there are those that can only be eliminated at a service station.

What can happen to the cooling radiator? So, the generator fails due to the fact that:

The tightness of the pipes through which the coolant enters the radiator tanks is broken;
Cracks form on the radiator tubes (for supplying and removing fluid);
After a car gets into an accident, due to the effects of corrosion, cracks and holes appear on the radiator itself;
The rubber seals of the steel are not tight;
The conductive tubes were clogged, as a result of which the liquid could not be cooled sufficiently.

In order to repair a radiator with your own hands, you must first identify faults in its operation.

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Also here you can find out how to remove the VAZ 2110 vacuum brake booster.

If there are leaks of coolant, then the radiator is faulty. It is not difficult to identify a radiator leak, you just need to carefully inspect the parking lot.

Looking for leaks. In case of problems with the radiator, this is the first action of any motorist.To do this, you need to open the hood, in which you then search for the pipes leading to the radiator. It is necessary to check the condition of the upper and lower pipes of the motor and two pipes of the stove. Careful inspection of the connections and the sealing clamps is necessary. Hoses must be free of cracks or breaks, and clamps must be free of leaks.

Next, you need to inspect the radiator itself, whether there are traces of recently leaked antifreeze on its body. You need to turn off the engine, wait until it cools down a little, then turn it on again and warm it up to operating temperature. What's in the open hole? During normal operation of the thermostat, antifreeze should flow inside. An empty radiator means that a stuck closed thermostat must be replaced.

You can also check the thermostat with a completely cooled motor. To do this, you need to remove the plug from the radiator and look into it. Antifreeze flowing inside means a stuck open thermostat. In addition, it is because of a faulty radiator that the motor constantly overheats. Diagnostics of the condition of the radiator is carried out as follows. The coolant levels are checked and should be normal. A "cold" start of the motor is carried out. When the engine warms up, the temperature of the pipes supplying the radiator becomes slightly higher. The radiator pipes must be cold. If the outlet pipes become warm, then the thermostat is out of order. If the lower branch pipe becomes warmer, then everything is in order with the thermostat; in case of poor cooling, we can say that the thermostat needs to be replaced (repaired).

Radiators made of brass. Holes, cracks, gaps in this kind of radiators are eliminated. Before starting work, you need to stock up on a powerful soldering iron (an electric one with a power of at least 500 W is quite suitable); drill, flux or soldering acid (zinc chloride additive); solder; sandpaper and a metal brush.

First, the faulty radiator is removed from the car and cleaned. Further, all damage is inspected on it. Holes or small cracks, for example on the surfaces of the radiator tanks, as well as other damage, can be cleaned with a brush. Then it is necessary to sand the soldering points to those. until a uniform metallic sheen appears. This is done in order to remove oxides and so that the solder and metal adhere perfectly. After that, on the brass surface (in the place of the proposed soldering), soldering acid, a drill with flux is applied, due to which the spreading of the solder along the damage will be excellent. When soldering damage, you need to look at the condition of the factory welded seams, which, when heated with a soldering iron on a highly conductive brass material, can also begin to "float". When damage is found near the places where factory seams are located, they are cooled or methods of restoring radiators from aluminum material are used.

Radiators made of aluminum material. To repair damage in this kind of cooling elements, it is worth taking various sealants and adhesives.

Holes with damage 1 cm deep are sealed using "cold welding", produced in the form of small bars and includes a pair of components with an adhesive base and a catalyst. Holes are repaired using the same method as repairs with epoxy and polyester adhesives. Before starting the process called "cold welding", its components are kneaded until they become a homogeneous mass and take the form of a conical shape, the sharp angle of which is pressed into the damage.

Cracks that form at the base of any of the tubes are sealed with epoxy adhesives or its components. The best results with this restoration method can be achieved by adding fillers (for example, aluminum powders) to the glue.A solution of the prepared glue is applied to the places ready for work, after which a certain number of layers of glass fabrics soaked in an adhesive solution are wound in the places of gluing (to increase the rigidity). After the completion of the repair work, the epoxy glue must be dried (at least one day), after which the radiator element can be operated.

Note that the restoration of radiators with huge holes is carried out using epoxy glue and glass fabrics. In this case, the damage is sealed with a certain number of fiberglass pieces, the size of each of which increases (ascending). Each layer is dried after gluing.

If the radiator plastic tank is damaged (such structures are quite common), you can use either the method described above, or soldering the plastics. For the process, it is necessary to use materials identical to those used in the construction. The sequence of soldering is identical to the connection of elements made of metallic material.

You will learn even more details about the repair of radiators from this video:

At the end of the article about how to repair a car radiator with your own hands, Recall that after self-repair, the radiator can last a long time if:

secure it securely;
the outer radiator surface must be periodically cleaned with autochemicals;
fill the cooling system only with high-quality antifreeze;
the cooler must be changed periodically (when its qualities change).

You can also, in order not to suffer, buy a new radiator or send it to a service station for repair. As for the cost of repairs in specialized workshops, the price will depend on the service station itself, on how popular it is. For example, in workshops belonging to branded manufacturing enterprises, repairs will be more expensive. In service stations located outside the city, repairs will be cheaper. In cities closer to the center, repairs will be more expensive, further - cheaper.

An article on how to repair a car cooling radiator - causes of malfunctions, methods of troubleshooting. At the end of the article - a video about the professional repair of the radiator.

The content of the article:

Causes of cooling radiator malfunctions
Typical malfunctions
How to pinpoint a radiator leak
Repair methods
Video about professional radiator repair

After the fuel is burned in the engine, about 70% of the generated energy is converted into heat. Some of the heat goes out through the exhaust pipe, but most of the heat stays inside the engine, heating it to a high temperature.

A cooling radiator (heat exchanger) is used to prevent engine overheating and dissipate heat into the environment, which is the main component of the vehicle's cooling system. A healthy and well-maintained (clean) radiator maintains optimum operating temperature in the engine, allowing it to run at full capacity.

However, the radiator, like all other elements of the car, can fail and stop performing its function. But at the same time, it is not at all necessary to immediately contact a car service for repairs. As practice shows, in most cases, a heat exchanger malfunction can be eliminated independently. To do this, you just need to identify the cause of the breakdown and know how to eliminate it.

There are not so many reasons causing problems with the radiator, and conditionally they can be divided into three types:

mechanical damage;
improper operation;
normal wear and tear during operation.

You can also add a factory marriage, but this reason is extremely rare. In most cases, the above reasons lead to one consequence - a violation of the tightness of the radiator. That is, it simply starts to leak.

But there is another "result" of breakdown, which can be more likely attributed to improper operation - fouling of heat transfer plates... Simply put, the radiator becomes so dirty that it stops exchanging heat with the environment, since an adhered and dried layer of dirt (dust, insects, poplar fluff) prevents heat from separating from the heat exchange plates.

In this situation, it is hardly appropriate to talk about repairs, because the problem is solved by simply flushing the radiator fins with a stream of running water. By the way, dirt can form not only outside the radiator, but also inside it in the form of blockages, scale and corrosive deposits.

A small stone that accidentally flew out from under the wheel of a car, and a serious accident with a head-on collision can damage the radiator mechanically with the subsequent violation of the tightness. Also, the inept maintenance of the radiator by an inexperienced car owner, when he accidentally damages the housing, heat exchange elements or other parts, can also be attributed to mechanical damage.

Incorrect operation can consist not only in untimely cleaning and washing of the radiator, but also in the use of low-quality coolant.

Poor quality of the liquid can lead to its freezing and "defrosting" of the radiator, even with a slight frost, with a subsequent violation of the tightness. Or the composition of a low-quality liquid can be so aggressive that it corrodes metal. And this eventually leads to the same defect - depressurization and leaks.

In a car, as in other technology, there is nothing eternal. And the cooling radiator is no exception. He and its accompanying parts are also susceptible to corrosion, destruction, blockages during operation.

Typical radiator malfunctions can be divided into two types: external and internal.

External:

violation of the tightness of the pipes for the delivery of coolant to the radiator tanks;
the formation of cracks on the radiator pipes for the supply / removal of coolant;
violation of the tightness of rubber seals.

Internal:

the formation of blockages in the conductive pipes that prevent sufficient cooling of the liquid.

Before starting to repair the radiator, you need to determine the nature and location of the malfunction itself. Almost all external malfunctions of the radiator (except for the usual pollution) consist in a violation of its tightness, which means that there must be a coolant leak.

The intensity of fluid flow from the radiator can be different, and at the initial stage it is visually imperceptible, but a rapid decrease in the level of fluid in the tank is noticed almost immediately. After all, a decrease in the level of antifreeze or antifreeze leads to overheating of the engine, which will be immediately signaled by a special temperature sensor on the driver's instrument panel.

There are two ways to pinpoint the location of a fluid leak. In this case, you will need to completely drain the coolant from the radiator, and disconnect the radiator itself, remove it from the car and rinse thoroughly.

It is necessary to plug (close) all radiator inlets and leave only one. Pour water into the radiator through the left hole. Through the same open hole, using a pump or compressor, create excess pressure in the radiator. A stream of water will begin to come out of the hole in the damaged area.

Also, the removed, empty and clean radiator, but with all the inlets plugged, must be completely immersed in a suitable container of water. Air bubbles will emerge from the holes in damaged areas. If air does not come out, create excess pressure in the radiator with a pump or compressor.

There are several ways to repair a radiator, but not all of them are available and are suitable for independent "garage" or "field" repair. Below we will consider the most simple and common methods of self-repair in simple conditions, without special professional equipment.

For exterior repairs to a cooling radiator, a heat-resistant adhesive sealant with metal powder is often used. Such a composition is often called "cold welding" or "metal sealant". On the market, such sealants can be offered ready-to-use or as separate components, which then need to be mixed until a homogeneous mass is obtained.

Repairing a radiator using external glue-sealant is quite effective, but only subject to compliance with the relevant technological requirements at each stage of work:

the coolant must be completely drained from the radiator;
the outer surface intended for repair must be thoroughly degreased and lightly treated with a file or emery cloth until a slightly rough surface is formed;
to seal large holes (more than 2 mm), metal patches with a degreased and treated surface can be used.

A sealant is applied around the hole (crack). Initial hardening occurs within 2-3 minutes, and full hardening within 24 hours. The product can be used after 24 hours.

The advantage of a metal sealant is that its coefficient of thermal expansion is close to the coefficient of metal, and if everything is done correctly, then the sealed radiator can serve for several more years.

"Chemical sealants" are sometimes referred to as "radiator reconditioning fluid" or "powder reducing agent". Accordingly, such sealants are powder and liquid.

Eliminating a leak with a sealant (from the inside) is not a difficult process. The sealant is poured into the cooling system, after which it comes into contact with air and creates a polymer plug, which clogs the hole at the leak.

However, this method has a serious drawback - the sealant clogs the cooling system., after which a complete flushing of the system (and an air conditioner with a stove too) is required. Therefore, the internal use of a sealant is advisable only in an emergency, when the leak is urgently needed to be repaired. You can drive with such a sealant no more than 100 km.

Repairing radiators using soldering is considered not only more reliable, but also more difficult and time consuming. However, this self-repair method is not suitable for all radiators. For example, it is better not to use it to repair radiators made of aluminum alloys, which are very difficult to repair under normal conditions. It is better, easier and faster to seal such radiators with metal sealant. Brass devices are considered the most suitable for home repair with a soldering iron.

To solder a brass radiator you will need:

a soldering iron with a power of at least 50 W;
soldering acid (acid and zinc solution) - for cleaning metal from oxide;
borax powder (flux) - to neutralize the oxide film and better spreading of liquid solder;
solder.
metal brush, sandpaper or file.

The surface for applying the joint layer must be pre-cleaned from dirt and dust. Signs of corrosion and oxidation are removed with a wire brush. The working surface is processed with an emery cloth (or a file) to a shine, to improve the adhesion (adhesion) of the metal to the solder. The soldering iron tip must be clean and free of old solder and scale. The work surface must be warmed up immediately before starting soldering.

Important! Soldering can only be carried out at a certain distance from the factory seam, since brass has a high thermal conductivity and can melt the factory seam.

The process of soldering a radiator is not as easy as it seems at first glance. If you do not have sufficient minimum skills to work with a soldering iron or you are not confident in your abilities, then it is better to contact a specialist.

If the cooling radiator has extensive damage, but at the same time it is localized (that is, located in one place), then the problem can be solved by plugging the damaged pipes.

Usually, the damaged tubes are tightly squeezed (flattened) with pliers on both sides as close as possible to the damaged area. In this simple way, the leakage of coolant from the defective holes is blocked.

As a rule, such radical actions are taken in "field" conditions when there is no other way out of the situation. It should be remembered that it is impossible to operate the car for a long time after such a radical repair, and the number of plugged tubes should not exceed 3-4 pieces.

The most recent car models are increasingly equipped with cooling radiators with plastic barrels and an aluminum alloy center section. It should be remembered that it is not necessary to waste time on the repair of such radiators, since they cannot be repaired at all - they must be changed immediately.

Video about professional radiator repair:

If a car's radiator leaks, then most of us resort to replacing it. However, in most cases it is possible not to change, but to repair the radiator. Sometimes no skills are required, but sometimes it is impossible to do without knowledge in the field of welding or soldering. We learn to determine the condition and try to restore the radiator with our own hands.

The most common problem is when the radiator leaks due to old age. Coolant (coolant) runs out of the joints between metal and plastic, which automatically leads to overheating of the engine. It is not always possible to find a replacement radiator, and repairs will cost at least 2 times cheaper than a new one.

Further speech will be about car radiators in general and it does not matter if it is a repair of a heater radiator, an air conditioner radiator or a radiator of the engine cooling system.

Repair of a radiator with chemistry. Minor damages can be repaired with special products known on the market as radiator refurbishing fluid, radiator sealant, or powder reductants. The principle of operation is approximately the same: pour the radiator reductant into the engine cooling system (SOD). The resulting mixture will seal cracks when exposed to air.

Chemistry - chemistry is different, therefore, it is impossible to answer for the quality of this method as a whole. For example, a low-quality reductant may not help, but, on the contrary, harm it by clogging up the entire SOD. For example, the stove will stop heating and it will be necessary to flush the SOD or change the radiator of the stove. Better chemistry is able to eliminate radiator leakage only for a while (from several days to several months). Thus, chemistry for repairing a radiator is only a temporary solution to the problem.

There is a popular method for repairing radiators. It consists in patching holes using cold welding (a material similar to plasticine, which hardens after use). It is better to close up a small hole in the radiator after degreasing the work surface well. If the hole in the radiator is large, then you can use a piece of tin as a patch, which is again glued with cold welding.

We repair the radiator honeycomb with a mixture of epoxy resin and hardener. Degrease and pour the substance into the damaged honeycomb and level it with a spatula. Now the holes in the radiator are 100% sealed.
In general, the folk method involves the use of many materials for sealing, I just showed the main ones. Whether this approach can be called a high-quality radiator repair, decide for yourself.

The following instruction assumes knowledge of basic welding and soldering skills.
To repair the radiator permanently, it must be removed, but before that, the coolant must be drained from it (described in detail in the article on cleaning the radiator).Now that the radiator is dismantled, we can determine its condition, whether the radiator can be repaired or replaced with a new one.

Repair the radiator by soldering. We clean the place that will be restored well and solder a piece of sheet brass (brass radiators). Here you need to resort to using a gas torch and a soldering iron.

If the radiator tubes are cracked, then it is better to replace them with new ones. We heat the solder until it becomes soft and take the tube out of the tank. In its place we solder a new one. The disadvantage of this method is the effect of high temperatures on the elements of the radiator, which leads to its internal deformation. Therefore, it is better to use argon arc welding (argon welding).

Repair of a radiator with argon welding. The filler material here is a special welded aluminum wire. Special equipment is indispensable here. It should be noted that places treated with argon will be protected from oxidation.
Repair of a radiator using gas-dynamic spraying. When a special powder is accelerated along the inside of the radiator at a very high speed, a 1-1.5mm thick coating forms on the damaged surface. It makes no sense to describe these two methods, because they cannot be done at home.

There are various ways to repair a car radiator, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages. In one case, there will be a short-term repair of the radiator, and in the other for a long time. If you doubt your abilities, then it is better to entrust the mission of restoring the radiator to specialists and argon welding. They will not only repair, but immediately clean the radiator and, if desired, install a brass tank.

If the radiator is damaged after a frontal collision of the car, then repairs will cost a pretty penny. It is more correct in this case to buy a new high-quality radiator.

An aluminum or copper heat exchanger is the main element of the cooling system of an automobile engine. Thanks to him, and even an electric fan, it is possible to keep the temperature of the antifreeze within the maximum permissible range. Owners of used cars over 10 years old often have to deal with the failure of the unit - the long service life affects. But do not rush to purchase a new expensive spare part or go to disassembly. First, find out how you can save and repair a car radiator with your own hands.

To troubleshoot and then repair a radiator, you need to understand its structure. "Specialists" who claim that a leaking unit should simply be welded are not too versed in the design and materials from which heat exchangers for cooling automobile engines are made.

The radiator consists of the following elements:

a system of copper or aluminum tubes (otherwise - honeycomb), united by heat exchange plates made of the appropriate metal;
2 plastic tanks with antifreeze supply and outlet necks (there are models with an additional filler pipe);
brackets for fastening to the car body and the casing of the electric fan;
other elements - a steam outlet pipe, a socket for installing a temperature sensor, and so on.

Note. The honeycomb and cisterns of different radiator models are located differently. In a unit with horizontal tubes, the tanks are located on the sides, with vertical honeycombs - at the top and bottom.

Plastic containers are open on one side of the box, covering the ends of all tubes and seated on gaskets. The incoming antifreeze fills the first tank, passes through the honeycomb and, after cooling, is collected in the second tank, from where it flows back into the engine.

Before you repair the radiator, you should find the place of the leak and the extent of the damage.It can be a single small crack or numerous small holes, as is often the case with aluminum heat exchangers that are rotten with age. The last defect cannot be repaired - the unit will have to be replaced with a new one.

Advice. Make sure the coolant is draining out of the radiator itself. Cracked pipes or loose clamps are often the culprit.

To repair the cooling radiator, the unit must be removed from the vehicle, having previously drained the system. After dismantling, fill the heat exchanger with water and find any leaks found in such places:

directly in the honeycomb;
at the junction of the nozzle with the tank;
on the seating flanges of the tanks due to a leaky seal;
a separate case - mechanical damage as a result of hitting a stone or for other reasons, visible to the naked eye.

The best way to check the tightness of a radiator is to supply compressed air (no more than 2 bar) inside by immersing the product in water. Air bubbles will show you the exact location of the holes.

Depending on the nature of the detected malfunction, use one of the following solutions for its elimination.

The method is effective for products made of brass and copper, whose honeycombs are not torn apart by external mechanical impact, and the size of the holes does not exceed 2–3 mm. An important condition: the unit should not be too old and rotten, otherwise the fistulas will double when cleaning. To solder a copper heat sink, prepare the following tools and materials:

a powerful soldering iron with a wide tip (at least 500 W);
a brush with a thin steel bristle, sandpaper;
degreasing compound;
solder, flux;
soldering acid.

First, you need to provide access to the place of the defect in order to get there with a soldering iron. If necessary, remove some of the ribs with pliers and pliers. Take care that antifreeze does not leak out of the hole, and proceed in this order:

Use a wire brush to remove coarse debris stuck between the fins of the heat exchanger.
Sand the defect to a characteristic metal shine and degrease it.
Etch the damaged area with acid, applying a small amount with a fine brush.
Apply a layer of flux and start soldering, trying to tighten the hole with solder. If necessary, carry out the operation in several stages.
At the end, test the tightness of the product by filling it with water or blowing it with compressed air. After installation on the vehicle, carefully check the functionality of the repaired radiator.

This method is also suitable for sealing small cracks in brass tanks or in the places where nozzles are connected. If the diameters of the holes in the pipes are too large and cannot be soldered, go to the next option.

It is almost impossible to solder an aluminum radiator in a conventional garage, so the holes will have to be repaired in other ways:

small holes and cracks are filled with various adhesives;
the larger holes are sealed with a product called cold welding.

Note. Sealing leaks with cold welding is not a reliable method. It happens that the patch lasts for several years, and sometimes it comes off on the second day. Much depends on the quality of the repair.

The leak is sealed as follows:

It is advisable to rinse and dry the radiator. Remove external debris with a wire brush.
Sand the surface of the tube around the hole or crack with sandpaper. Make sure the aluminum does not crumble when sanding.
Thoroughly degrease the area of the defect.
Prepare an adhesive mixture or cold weld according to the instructions on the package and apply to the hole. Wait for the allotted time and check the heat exchanger for leaks.

It is not difficult to find on sale a two-component polymer-based adhesive for sealing such defects.If the reservoir or the pipe at the top of the radiator is damaged, the crack can be sealed without removing the unit from the machine.

In case of damage to the plastic containers, you just need to glue the car radiator in the manner described above. There is a more insidious problem - a coolant leak from under the gaskets. The malfunction is eliminated as follows:

Using a flat screwdriver and pliers, bend the metal brackets holding the sides of the tank against the heat exchanger flange.
Remove the container and the seal, clean the adjacent surfaces, rinse and dry the radiator. The task is to remove the formed layer of aluminum oxide, which violates the tightness of the joint.
Degrease reservoir and heat exchanger flanges, then treat with Solvent 646. Seat new (or old) gasket on high temperature silicone sealant.
Apply sealant to the seating plane of the container, put it in place and press down. After 15–20 minutes, gently fold back all the brackets.

Advice. Proceed with caution while bending the staples so as not to damage the leaky gasket. It may turn out that a similar part is not available in the nearest auto parts store.

It happens that a large stone flies from an oncoming car, strongly deforming the honeycomb of the heat exchanger. Then glueing or brazing of the engine cooling radiator is not feasible due to the nature and extent of the damage. Such damage is caused by a minor accident with a foreign object entering the heat exchanger.

The unit's performance is partially restored by jamming the broken pipes. It will be necessary to carefully cut out the entire damaged area along with the ribs, and the honeycomb should be muffled on both sides by flattening and bending the cut ends of the tubes several times. A more aesthetic option is to remove the cisterns and seal the inlets of the deformed ducts.

The option to turn off some of the pipes should be considered temporary until you buy a new radiator... The reason is a significant decrease in cooling efficiency, which affects the operation of the engine. From external influences 1 tube rarely breaks, usually 2–4 cells are destroyed. The result is a loss of 10–20% of the heat exchange area.

Video (click to play).