Can or Not - To Patching The Leaking Radiator Using Glue

[Alex5522]

Trying to get some feed back as the title mentioned above.

Did any one experience to use the chop gajah glue to patching their radiator leaking at the area as pic above ?

 

[kw930]

My car having the similar leakage at the same area, but too bad there's no replacement cover sold separately.
So, end up had changed the whole radiator.
BTW, I don't think there's any glue or patch can seal it up, especially your leakage is quite severe.

 

[F10 CREW]

I do not think its possible for the following reasons :
1. The radiator is always hot. The glue cannot withstand the immense heat.
2. The glue will not be able to withstand the pressure.

Just my common sense but I could be dead wrong.

 

[Insured By Mafia]

I dont think so cap gajah can withstand the high pressured radiator..
Instead, try Araldite..a pack of Araldite comes with one tube of adhesive and one tube of hardener.
Water resistant, quick drying and super strong..basically bonds hard plastics instantly..
You can easily get it from any hardware shops...
Google it for the images..At least you will know how it looks..

 

[moots]

radiator leak patch up job on any plastic parts on the radiator WILL NOT do!period.
yes it may last a few days or maybe even weeks but it will eventually fail at the most awkward of time and place.
change it and have peace of mind.

 

[Herbert]

Alex,

Go and get a new radiator......this type of glue repair won't last.

 

[jarance]

No it will not work. you need to do ABS welding to repair the crack.

best is to buy new radiator.

 

[tckhor]

In general, the plastic has weakened. Even if you patch up one area, other areas will start to leak/crack. As fellow forummers have said, it is advisable to install a new radiator.

 

[Alex5522]

My car having the similar leakage at the same area, but too bad there's no replacement cover sold separately.
So, end up had changed the whole radiator.
BTW, I don't think there's any glue or patch can seal it up, especially your leakage is quite severe.

Bro so coincidentally similar leaking at the same area happen to your radiator too. May i know how much the cost you spend to replaced a new unit of this radiator.
Btw thanks for the advice on not using the glue for this issue.

I do not think its possible for the following reasons :
1. The radiator is always hot. The glue cannot withstand the immense heat.
2. The glue will not be able to withstand the pressure.

Just my common sense but I could be dead wrong.

Bro..thanks for the feed back

I dont think so cap gajah can withstand the high pressured radiator..
Instead, try Araldite..a pack of Araldite comes with one tube of adhesive and one tube of hardener.
Water resistant, quick drying and super strong..basically bonds hard plastics instantly..
You can easily get it from any hardware shops...
Google it for the images..At least you will know how it looks..

Bro.. thanks for advice and i know which Araldite adhesive you are telling about.

radiator leak patch up job on any plastic parts on the radiator WILL NOT do!period.
yes it may last a few days or maybe even weeks but it will eventually fail at the most awkward of time and place.
change it and have peace of mind.

Bro.. thanks for the feed back and advice.

Alex,

Go and get a new radiator......this type of glue repair won't last.

Yes.. boss thanks for you advice.

No it will not work. you need to do ABS welding to repair the crack.

best is to buy new radiator.

Thanks sifu for the advice on ABS welding, but i don't think so KK have this kind of ABS welding.

In general, the plastic has weakened. Even if you patch up one area, other areas will start to leak/crack. As fellow forummers have said, it is advisable to install a new radiator.

Thanks for the advice bro.

 

[Mel279]

Yes it can be patched up, drain the radiator and get those glue special made to patch up radiator but this just for temporary measure as a good used or new radiator would be much better option.

 

[Alex5522]

Yes it can be patched up, drain the radiator and get those glue special made to patch up radiator but this just for temporary measure as a good used or new radiator would be much better option.

Yupe.. here the interesting link : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rc7_BEcTtk

 

[doink]

tried that and failed. please change radiator...
unless u dun mind another failure coming very soon when u are driving in the highway

 

[Alex5522]

Since the leaking was not so serious so trying to survey around the radiator repairing workshop and manage to find this plastic cover as pic show below:-

It was made from China and it can save quite a lot of money. The problem was not sure about the quality.

Did any one change this plastic cover before and don't mind to share the quality and result ?

Thanks.

(sorry forgot to snap a pic of this plastic cover from the radiator workshop)

 

[Insured By Mafia]

Alex bro, you'd probably be the 1st to try that product out.
Don't think so others here can give their point of view since many opt to change to a new radiator instead.
So, update us where you found it and how much it costs.
It can help those who cant afford for a new radiator at a crucial time.

 

[jarance]

To remove the plastic material would be quite difficult as the aluminium holder is machine clamped on the plastic material.

You may have to bend back the aluminium art of the radiator and then have to crimped it back again.
As far as I know, aluminium dont allow much bending. maybe one or two time. they tend to break after
a few bending process.

 

[Alex5522]

Alex bro, you'd probably be the 1st to try that product out.
Don't think so others here can give their point of view since many opt to change to a new radiator instead.
So, update us where you found it and how much it costs.
It can help those who cant afford for a new radiator at a crucial time.

Did survey in few radiator workshop here in Kota Kinabalu, and none of them want to repair for me since they didn't repair before which i guess.
One of the radiator workshop did introduce me to one of the radiator supplier over here and i did go to consult from them. The condition was he want me to bring to the BMW workshop to dismantle my radiator and bring back for them to fix this plastic cover and they will do the cleaning flushing and compression test before i bring back to the BMW workshop to fix it back. The price quoted me was RM 290 and the name of this shop is Power Radiator Enterprise Sdn Bhd you can get the full address on this link on the company listed no 3:- http://my.wowcity.com/kotakinabalu/?what=Radiator%20Service

To remove the plastic material would be quite difficult as the aluminium holder is machine clamped on the plastic material.

You may have to bend back the aluminium art of the radiator and then have to crimped it back again.
As far as I know, aluminium dont allow much bending. maybe one or two time. they tend to break after
a few bending process.

Bro that's the problem make me to think twice, either replace a whole brand new unit for the sack of peace of mind or replace this plastic cover without any warranty from the supplier just to save some money lol... any where thanks for the good infos.

 

[kw930]

Since the leaking was not so serious so trying to survey around the radiator repairing workshop and manage to find this plastic cover as pic show below:-

It was made from China and it can save quite a lot of money. The problem was not sure about the quality.

Did any one change this plastic cover before and don't mind to share the quality and result ?

Thanks.

(sorry forgot to snap a pic of this plastic cover from the radiator workshop)

Great that you have found a replacement cover, I wish I found it too when I want to replace mine last time so that I can save my radiator. Mind to share how much you bought the cover?

About he radiator that I changed last time, I received 2 quotes, 1 is a cheaper version costing about RM500+, another type is a more expensive one about RM800+, I choose the later.


Aside from the plaster cover, you need to take care of another 2 plastic part too. They don't come together with the radiator, they need to buy separately (about RM200+ for these 2 items) and I guess the cover you bought also does not come with it.
I suggest you change them too since they are the connecting elements to the water hoses and is about time to reach its lifespan too.


Besides, also please check the water hoses, maybe some of it may start deteriorated, which happen on my top hose and I had changed it too.

 

[jarance]

read this.. this guy open up his radiator..

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=501999

 

[astroboy]

Radiator plastic failure usually occur at the top due to the repeat wet and dry cycle compared to the bottom where it's constantly submerged. Before it fail, it start to turn color to slight brownish from black.

Cooling component plastic once aged, will turn brittle, patching with glue is just a temporary measure because other surfaces will fail not long after that.

Changing of the cover is another option but we have left and right cover. Once your radiator is out of the car, it's advisable to replace both end cover and it may cost you 80% price to a new radiator if not more expensive. Furthermore, the radiator repair takes time, need to park car at workshop for at least half a day. I replaced mine for RM600. Brand new, kao time. 20 min job.. 2 x 1.5L BMW coolant already cost RM60 lor. Why waste nice coolant in a repaired radiator knowing it will fail again..

 

[Rick Wong]

They make plastic cover r purposely let u last around for ten year only than start ageing & crack, look back the history of radiator, from invent of car radiator they using brass till around 1980 than we start seen radiator with plastic bmw 3 series start with E21, toyota start with AE80 1984, land cruiser start at 1990 HDJ80, Isuzu start at D-Max 2003, I love brass radiator, hassle free, less maintenance, last for whole life.