Radiator leak: causes and their elimination. Soldering the engine cooling radiator

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

The engine cooling radiator is a very important part of a car. This system continuously removes excess heat from the motor and dissipates it into the environment. A fully serviceable heat exchanger is a guarantee of the optimal temperature for the engine, at which it can produce its full power without failures and problems.

Like everything else that is made by man, radiators are subject to various malfunctions that can happen at the most inopportune moment. One of the typical problems is a radiator leak. Consider the reasons why heat exchangers can leak, and also find out how to fix this trouble.

Causes of damage

There aren't many things that cause problems with radiators. All of them can be divided into two types. These are mechanical causes and natural wear and tear, which contribute to various damages that violate the integrity and tightness of the device. Even a small stone that accidentally flew out from under the wheels can cause breakdown and leakage.radiator.

But sometimes auto mechanics face another factor - it's head-on collisions with other cars. Even a slight blow to the bumper is enough to cause a breakdown. In addition, various repairs that are done by novice motorists can be attributed to mechanical reasons. This often leads to damage to important parts and components of the device.

Corrosion processes, as well as natural wear and tear, are the second group of reasons that cause a radiator to leak. It must be remembered that even minor scratches or chips can very quickly turn into a hotbed of active corrosion. If attention is not paid to this problem in time, then as a result of the destructive process, a hole will appear through which the coolant will flow out of the system. Minor cracks are quite difficult to detect. But if you seriously get down to business, then often all such damage can still be found.

These are two groups of typical causes that can cause depressurization and damage to the heat exchanger and subsequently coolant leakage. In addition, there are also some troubles during operation, which can cause improper circulation of antifreeze in the system.

Radiator leaking: consequences

Given that a radiator with antifreeze is part of the engine cooling system, it is logical that in the event of a malfunction, the motor runs the risk of overheating. In the worst case, the head and the cylinder block itself will lead. But thisnot all. Escaping coolant can get on various parts, including rubber, which in itself is not good.

How to identify a leak?

If the engine began to overheat often, and the coolant that was recently poured into the tank quickly left somewhere, it is urgent to diagnose the radiator for holes. To find out where the hole is, you need to dismantle the radiator and carefully inspect it.

But it's not always possible to find a hole visually. Then you should use other diagnostic methods. So, how to check the radiator for a leak:

1. To do this, all openings of the device are closed with stoppers.
2. The part is then lowered into a suitable container of water.
3. Next, you need to observe - if bubbles appear, then there is a breakdown in those places on the radiator.

Diagnosis of leaks from pipes or from the heat exchanger itself will not be a problem. But if there are no fluid leaks, and the temperature of the antifreeze or antifreeze during the movement quickly rises to critical values, then it is much more difficult to find out the cause. Usually this situation occurs if there is not enough coolant or the radiator is not working efficiently. If traces of coolant are found under the hood, it is urgent to repair the radiator.

How to fix a leak: choose a method according to the situation

There are several options. The way to fix a radiator leak depends on the extent of the breakdown in it and on where the leak was found - inroad or garage. If the breakdown was found in the garage and it is possible to carry out repairs with the dismantling of the device, then you can choose the repair method using cold welding or soldering. If the trouble happened on the road, you must use a means to fix a radiator leak.

"Treatment" with sealant

By the way, motorists from the last century used mustard to fix leaks. Mustard powder was poured into the radiator, and so it was possible to get home. But this method has a significant disadvantage. After applying the mustard, you will need to flush the radiator.

Today, mustard is no longer relevant. If a radiator leak is found on the road, repairs can be performed using special sealants. What is the principle of action of the composition? It is poured into the expansion tank or into the radiator itself. Then, through cracks and holes, the agent will flow out and solidify. When combined with air, the sealant creates a durable polymer-based film.

Cold welding

A radiator leak can be fixed in a more reliable way than a sealant. In this situation, heat-resistant adhesives with metal powder will help - cold welding.

The radiator or its damaged area must be thoroughly degreased and further processed with sandpaper until a slight roughness appears. Then a metal-sealant is applied to the place of damage. Setting time takes about 3 minutes. But full timerequired for hardening - from several hours to days.

Heat exchanger repair by soldering

Soldering an engine cooling radiator is already a serious repair that will require some skills. To repair the device, you will need a welding machine or a large soldering iron.

You should also prepare filler materials. The choice depends on the material of the radiator. The most commonly used additives are aluminum or brass. For degreasing use ordinary acetone.

Aluminum brazing process

Brazing an aluminum engine cooling radiator is an effective solution for repairing various damages. But it is better not to carry out an independent repair of such a plan. Soldering an engine cooling radiator is a rather complicated and time-consuming process. There are also many nuances in the preparation of the flux. It is best to choose a powerful soldering iron - at least 50 watts. It should be well warmed up before use.

If the radiator has thick walls, it is also desirable to warm them up. The solder must contain at least 50% tin. You can use POS-61. If there is less tin, then you should not expect high quality from soldering.

Flux is applied to the surface in a thick layer. Soldering is done in a circular motion, and the solder is literally rubbed into the damaged surface. This is a reliable way to repair cracks.

Copper radiators are repaired with more powerful devices with POS-60 and POS-40 solders. Whatas for the technology, it is no different from the aluminum soldering process.

CV

If the heat exchanger leaks, then, as you probably already understood, it is not necessary to purchase a new one. You can try to fix the problem without replacement. After all, there are effective ways to fix a radiator leak.