Radiator Leak

jneaves

New Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2006
Location
Winston-Salem, NC
I'm new to the Jeep Tech, I'm working on it tho! So heres the news. I bought a bright yellow 1980 CJ5 from an old guy back home. It has pretty much sat for 2 years besides the previous owner driving it down his driveway and to work occasionally (Jeep abuse). The Jeep runs out great! Only issue is the radiator leaking. I drove it maybe 9 miles down the road to the gas station to fill up before my trip back home,when I finished I noticed a nice puddle of antifreeze under the Jeep. It all came from the small overflow tube from the top, the radiator itself isnt leaking. I didn't finish my journey home. Left it at my parents until I have time to work on it. Anyone have some good pointers on where I should start working? All ideas and help is greatly appreciated!!! Thanks.
 
If it came from the overflow, it may not be an issue, maybe just over full, BUT if it has sat for a while then your thermostat could be gummed up.
Fix it before you go any further.
 
it sat for a couple years, check the hoses, get a t-stat and radiator cap, and flush the system. Assuming the system isn't clogged, and the water pump is good, this should 'fix' the situiation.
It seems as if it either, won't hold pressure (cap),
or is building too much pressure (t-stat, or clogged system).
 
also, on that Jeep it has no overflow/reservoir. When it has too much fluid in it, it will purge it. If it gets too hot, and the fluid expands enough, it will purge it. I added a over flow/reservoir to mine. From advance for less than $10
 
If you find it leaking from the core/tanks/etc., I recommend Gordon's here in W-S! Old school service & ethic... they shoot straight! Told me about (& showed me) the pinholes in my original & planned replacement radiator after a hot tanking. Sold me a HD 3core replacement, sweated my brackets onto it, tax, tags, & title for less than I could buy it online...
 
Yo,
Replace the radiator pressure cap!

If the radiator is too full, it will blow off one time and that should be it to equalize the system. If it keeps purging coolant, you got a more serious problem.

:beer:
 
Do you know what temp it was running at? If it was leaking from the overfill hose like you said and its not over-heating, then I would change out the radiator cap. The seal surface has to be in good condition and the cap has to be functioning properly, otherwise you'll leak out of that hose all day and your cooling system won't work like it's designed.

If you end up doing some maintenance on your cooling system, flush your block and radiator in reverse flow, and change out the rubber hoses like mentioned above. Rubber doesn't last long.
 
GubNi said:
Could be air in the lines. I see that way too often and most people don't believe me.
Click to expand...

Yup.

So when you replace hoses and flush out the system, make sure you fill it back up properly and hope that everything is fixed when you're done. After doing all these things and it ends up working, you may not know what true fix was, but at least it'll be fixed.
 
Back
Top