Coolant leak by rad

[schiker]

Are you tightening till something bends or deforms fittings distorting the clamp?

By stock you mean the spring clamps? if yes I would rather run a worm gear any day. You could get fancy and use a tee bolt clamp.
I never have a problem. I also put some stuff called AquaLube on all my connections.

I'll second that.
I have started lubricating most plumbing fittings (hoses, O-rings, seals etc) with similar to Aqualube. I usually use Super Lube. Its a synthetic food grade grease. Or "plumbers grease".

Make sure the hose and barb are clean and lightly lube. Make sure hose is slipped on fully and the clamp doesn't cross the end bead or too close to it as to pinch or bind on top of it. Make sure the clamp is square/parallel to the "hose barb". I try and seat midway from hose end and any bead on end of barb. Don't over tighten it can distort the clamp. I usually tighten them til I see them squeeze down on the hose not til I feel it start to give or start to stretch or feel fully torqued down.

Diesel's can vibrate a worm clamp or about anything loose but I'll take a worm clamp over an old worn out OE clamp. If something is young I'll reuse a OE type spring clamp If it all still feels good.

 

[Burning oil]

Trying to tell us something about lube and the ex, Leroy?

Every now and then she would lube my hose.

 

[GM Guy]

I would blame the autozone worm clamps, but that is just me.

The OEM are a PITA, but they do work good.

 

[WarWagon]

Must have jinxed myself on this one. Stepped out of the truck this AM and it was raining from the radiator area both sides. Now I can't find any leaks but traces on both sides of the radiator lower support. No drops on the fan, nothing. Top weep hole looks good and can't even see the bottom one with a mirror. Only thing I can figure it it was the top radiator hose at the radiator - repaired last year brass/copper unit.

It's not leaking now and this has water pump or clamp written all over it.

 

[Will L.]

Pressure test time...
http://www.tooltopia.com/mityvac-mv...scplp6821317&gclid=CKXJhemr5MQCFVKDfgodTFAA7g

Or for the I don't wanna spend $ crowd, drill and tap an old radiator cap, run a couple inches of hose to a tee, a pressure gauge off the top of the tee, and anything you have laying around to supply pressure into the last side of the tee. If it's a full size compressor, be careful with easing in the air to 15-16 psi.

Other tricks if you really can't find the leak is a/c dye in the system, it will circulate and show it ultra violet self soon enough. Saw a guy drain the system then use his smoke machine to find the leak, but that was for a cold leak (no pressure) one he chased a while.

Story time:
Bad water pump in the hummer on a trip in death valley, An egg from the breakfast supplies, cracked into the coolant. The egg circulates around and wants to cook at high water temp, but can't until it starts to fizz out the little stream leak. At that point it instantly boils into a foamy seal as it hits the oxygen and seals the leak. It will last longer than you think, Yes add some pepper if you have it it not only tastes better but can sometimes seal a small leak by itself. I did that one for a guy in a dodge cummins on a different trip.

 

[Burning oil]

What about hash-browns?

 

[WarWagon]

What about hash-browns?

That's what the turbo and manifold are for - Watch EGT for desired browning...

 

[Will L.]

Lunch in the desert: dashboard burritos.