Radiator leak. Hot tank and repair or get new Rad.

[JAG1]

How many of you guys have had success with hot tanking the radiator and resoldered or whatever they do for repairs and stop leaks?Should I just fork out for a new Radiator instead?

[CSM]

How many of you guys have had success with hot tanking the radiator and resoldered or whatever they do for repairs and stop leaks? Should I just fork out for a new Radiator instead?

Our trucks radiators have plastic ends. Performance radiator has always sold me new radiators cheaper than a mabe fix for a plastic radiator. I don't know of anyone local that can cheaply resolder a radiator. If it were old school... Then a resolder is a valid fix, but I am not sold on a resolder for ours. If you are in a real pinch, Bar's Leaks works, but it will plug up your heater core and take some life out of the water pump as well. ETA: Also, get a longer hose, or do Mike's remote crankcase vent mod to get the oil away from the radiator. I've never actually seen a 2nd gen Dodge radiator leak (we've had 4, 2 gas 2 diesel, totalling 500,000 mi or so), but I have had them so gummed up inside and out they didn't work anymore.

[Mopar1973Man]

I don't know of any way to repair aluminum radiators. My first thought is to maintain the coolant properly so the pH levels never rot the aluminium and steel parts. So I would just replace the radiator because if it thin in one spot it already thin in several other spots too. If the radiator is thin and leaking I would watch the oil cooler and the heater core closely too.

[JAG1]

I don't know of any way to repair aluminum radiators. My first thought is to maintain the coolant properly so the pH levels never rot the aluminium and steel parts. So I would just replace the radiator because if it thin in one spot it already thin in several other spots too. If the radiator is thin and leaking I would watch the oil cooler and the heater core closely too.

This on my first gen truck you guys. I think it's a copper radiator. I should have mentioned this but did post in the 1st gen forum. Does that change anything?

[Mopar1973Man]

This on my first gen truck you guys. I think it's a copper radiator. I should have mentioned this but did post in the 1st gen forum. Does that change anything?

Wasn't sure... But I was looking at the 02 listed in the signature so I was wonder was it a typo or a misplaced thread? Yes a 1st Gen should be a copper/brass radiator so yes you could have it rodded out and soldered up.

[JAG1]

Update on my 1st gen radiator..... The shop did a great job of it and there are no leaks.

 

The guy at the shop said that this first gen radiator is a very good one and offered to by it at first, but, I told him to go ahead repairing it for the hundred bucks he quoted. A new one was $650 to $750.

 

If I could only get a first gen rad into my second gen.