The Ford Barn

luchoster · 12-30-2016, 02:51 AM

This picture is from the day I put some antifreeze. After I drove it for a bit, came back home and a few hours later, I took this picture.

This is from a few days ago, but today I saw that there's more antifreeze.
Haven't done anything to the car in a few months, but should I prepare to rebuild or get a new radiator?

Thanks.

Mike V. Florida · 12-30-2016, 03:10 AM

You need to find exactly where it's coming from, hoses, petcock, or the actual radiator.

Manager · 12-30-2016, 03:27 AM

I think you should put a new engine in as well as a radiator, hoses ect just in case it's coming from there.

Synchro909 · 12-30-2016, 04:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manager

I think you should put a new engine in as well as a radiator, hoses ect just in case it's coming from there.

Is that oil on the cardboard or coolant with soluble oil in it? Engine oil was my first thought but then I wondered.

luchoster · 12-30-2016, 04:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synchro909

Is that oil on the cardboard or coolant with soluble oil in it? Engine oil was my first thought but then I wondered.

Is coolant.

Ed Saniewski · 12-30-2016, 06:49 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

If it continues to leak, wipe down and dry off all your hoses . then come back with a paper towel and slowly wipe again until you find a wet spot. It might just be a loose hoe clamp that needs to be snugged up.

aermotor · 12-30-2016, 06:56 AM

I found a pin hole in my return pipe that only leaked when hot.

John

KGBnut · 12-30-2016, 07:17 AM

You say you just added coolant. Are you sure that it's not just coming out of the overflow?

I would just hose everything down thoroughly, and let it dry completely (which should take about four minutes in Vegas). Check the coolant level, but don't add any unless you absolutely need some...two or three inches low is fine as long as the top of the tubes in the core are covered.

Then take it for a drive and see if it does it again. Since you rinsed and dried everything first, if it is still making a puddle you can track it down by looking for the wet spots on the hoses or the fins, etc.

Good luck,

Ken

Tom Wesenberg · 12-30-2016, 07:20 AM

Wipe the water pump clean and see if the leak is from the shaft/seal area. I see a lot of them leak there. I rebuilt mine just as it was made at the factory, and it never leaked a drop in over 10 years. The secret was to use grease all around the new lead packing rings, then snug the brass nut, run the engine, then snug the nut again. It doesn't need to be tight, just snug.

When I first bought my 28, it had a damp area near the upper right on the front of the radiator core. I used some radiator sealer, and it's been dry ever since. Even the vinegar treatment didn't open any new leaks.

As John mentioned, be sure that lower steel pipe is in good condition. Mine had some rust pits on the inside of the pipe, and one of the pits opened up while I was 50 miles from home. It happened as I was climbing a long fairly steep hill, and I didn't know about it until I heard a strange noise at the top of the hill. That was quite an overheat, and it took 2 gallons to refill and make it home.

About 10 miles down the road I stopped at a gas station food store to refill my 2 gallon water jugs. They wouldn't give me any water, but said I could buy their expensive distilled water. I left and made it home OK without their overpriced water. BTW I had some electrical tape under the seat to patch the hole in the pipe.

Hoogah · 12-30-2016, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

About 10 miles down the road I stopped at a gas station food store to refill my 2 gallon water jugs. They wouldn't give me any water, but said I could buy their expensive distilled water. I left and made it home OK without their overpriced water. BTW I had some electrical tape under the seat to patch the hole in the pipe.

How tight is that??!! Water is available for free at all service stations here. There is usually a tap and a watering can for customers to use to top up their radiators and windscreen washers. I suppose you have to buy your air, too?

jthomas6 · 12-30-2016, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoogah

How tight is that??!! Water is available for free at all service stations here. There is usually a tap and a watering can for customers to use to top up their radiators and windscreen washers. I suppose you have to buy your air, too?

Yup!

vern hodgson · 12-30-2016, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoogah

How tight is that??!! Water is available for free at all service stations here. There is usually a tap and a watering can for customers to use to top up their radiators and windscreen washers. I suppose you have to buy your air, too?

Air is free, just need to pay for the delivery system.

Bob-A · 12-30-2016, 09:53 AM

I lost some coolant once from my '31 roadster. It was because of a loose hose clamp on the intake pipe. A week or two later another coolant leak.
This time the drain petcock on the intake pipe decided to leak for whatever reason?!?

I hadn't touched the petcock in months and it only drained a certain amount then stopped?!?

Gremlins maybe....

Do like as has been mentioned and clean off everything. Find exactly where
the leak is coming from before you spend the big bucks unnecessarily.

Bob-A

captndan · 12-30-2016, 09:54 AM

Look for a small crack at the base of the fill neck. It can leak there when hot even if the coolant level is lower.

aermotor · 12-30-2016, 10:08 AM

Closer look it appears that the fins are wet 1/4 of the way over from the right and starting about 1/3 of the way down. I would check this by draining and drying the fins (maybe a little help with brake cleaner) and slowly fill back up with 100% anti freeze. Anti freeze will leak where water won't and you said it started to leak after you added anti freeze.

John

pooch · 12-30-2016, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoogah

How tight is that??!! Water is available for free at all service stations here. There is usually a tap and a watering can for customers to use to top up their radiators and windscreen washers. I suppose you have to buy your air, too?

Haha, they have to pay to use the dunny over there too.

C26Pinelake · 12-30-2016, 12:56 PM

why is the antifreeze that dark in color? Did you clean it off to see where it is leaking from? Wayne

Mitch//pa · 12-30-2016, 02:08 PM

Remember the three C's
Complaint
Cause
Correction

Synchro909 · 12-30-2016, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mitch//pa

Remember the three C's
Complaint
Cause
Correction

You left out the fourth one.

Oh, Crap!

luchoster · 12-30-2016, 05:14 PM

Thanks for the advise, I'm going to check tonight or over the weekend. I'll post results because I'm probably will need more help ha!

Happy new year's everyone!

Sent from my ZTE A2017U using Tapatalk

12-30-2016, 02:51 AM	#1
luchoster Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 14	How bad is this? (Another radiator question) This picture is from the day I put some antifreeze. After I drove it for a bit, came back home and a few hours later, I took this picture. This is from a few days ago, but today I saw that there's more antifreeze. Haven't done anything to the car in a few months, but should I prepare to rebuild or get a new radiator? Thanks.

12-30-2016, 03:10 AM	#2
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: How bad is this? (Another radiator question) You need to find exactly where it's coming from, hoses, petcock, or the actual radiator. __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II

12-30-2016, 03:27 AM	#3
Manager Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Birkdale, Qld,Aust Posts: 170	Re: How bad is this? (Another radiator question) I think you should put a new engine in as well as a radiator, hoses ect just in case it's coming from there.

12-30-2016, 06:49 AM	#6
Ed Saniewski Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Denville NJ Posts: 964	Re: How bad is this? (Another radiator question) Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) If it continues to leak, wipe down and dry off all your hoses . then come back with a paper towel and slowly wipe again until you find a wet spot. It might just be a loose hoe clamp that needs to be snugged up. __________________ Model A Ford Club of New Jersey http://www.mafcnj.org Model A Pick Up Owners and Enthusiasts https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/group.php?groupid=5

12-30-2016, 06:56 AM	#7
aermotor Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 1,099	Re: How bad is this? (Another radiator question) I found a pin hole in my return pipe that only leaked when hot. John

12-30-2016, 07:17 AM	#8
KGBnut Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Southwestern Connecticut Posts: 931	Re: How bad is this? (Another radiator question) You say you just added coolant. Are you sure that it's not just coming out of the overflow? I would just hose everything down thoroughly, and let it dry completely (which should take about four minutes in Vegas). Check the coolant level, but don't add any unless you absolutely need some...two or three inches low is fine as long as the top of the tubes in the core are covered. Then take it for a drive and see if it does it again. Since you rinsed and dried everything first, if it is still making a puddle you can track it down by looking for the wet spots on the hoses or the fins, etc. Good luck, Ken __________________ Style beats speed any day, and with a lot fewer tickets.

12-30-2016, 07:20 AM	#9
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: How bad is this? (Another radiator question) Wipe the water pump clean and see if the leak is from the shaft/seal area. I see a lot of them leak there. I rebuilt mine just as it was made at the factory, and it never leaked a drop in over 10 years. The secret was to use grease all around the new lead packing rings, then snug the brass nut, run the engine, then snug the nut again. It doesn't need to be tight, just snug. When I first bought my 28, it had a damp area near the upper right on the front of the radiator core. I used some radiator sealer, and it's been dry ever since. Even the vinegar treatment didn't open any new leaks. As John mentioned, be sure that lower steel pipe is in good condition. Mine had some rust pits on the inside of the pipe, and one of the pits opened up while I was 50 miles from home. It happened as I was climbing a long fairly steep hill, and I didn't know about it until I heard a strange noise at the top of the hill. That was quite an overheat, and it took 2 gallons to refill and make it home. About 10 miles down the road I stopped at a gas station food store to refill my 2 gallon water jugs. They wouldn't give me any water, but said I could buy their expensive distilled water. I left and made it home OK without their overpriced water. BTW I had some electrical tape under the seat to patch the hole in the pipe.

12-30-2016, 09:53 AM	#13
Bob-A Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Central FL, USA Posts: 1,137	Re: How bad is this? (Another radiator question) I lost some coolant once from my '31 roadster. It was because of a loose hose clamp on the intake pipe. A week or two later another coolant leak. This time the drain petcock on the intake pipe decided to leak for whatever reason?!? I hadn't touched the petcock in months and it only drained a certain amount then stopped?!? Gremlins maybe.... Do like as has been mentioned and clean off everything. Find exactly where the leak is coming from before you spend the big bucks unnecessarily. Bob-A

12-30-2016, 09:54 AM	#14
captndan Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Tennessee Posts: 714	Re: How bad is this? (Another radiator question) Look for a small crack at the base of the fill neck. It can leak there when hot even if the coolant level is lower.

12-30-2016, 10:08 AM	#15
aermotor Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 1,099	Re: How bad is this? (Another radiator question) Closer look it appears that the fins are wet 1/4 of the way over from the right and starting about 1/3 of the way down. I would check this by draining and drying the fins (maybe a little help with brake cleaner) and slowly fill back up with 100% anti freeze. Anti freeze will leak where water won't and you said it started to leak after you added anti freeze. John

12-30-2016, 12:56 PM	#17
C26Pinelake BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Michigan / Ontario border, Sarnia, Ontario. 50 miles from Detroit and 150 from Toronto. Posts: 5,800	Re: How bad is this? (Another radiator question) why is the antifreeze that dark in color? Did you clean it off to see where it is leaking from? Wayne

12-30-2016, 02:08 PM	#18
Mitch//pa BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bucks County, PA Posts: 11,454	Re: How bad is this? (Another radiator question) Remember the three C's Complaint Cause Correction

12-30-2016, 05:14 PM	#20
luchoster Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 14	Re: How bad is this? (Another radiator question) Thanks for the advise, I'm going to check tonight or over the weekend. I'll post results because I'm probably will need more help ha! Happy new year's everyone! Sent from my ZTE A2017U using Tapatalk