The radiator isn't that old, I installed it less than 5 years ago and it still looks new from the
outside (if that means anything?).  If I could see a small hole, is there a reason that it couldn't
be soldered?  That's why I was pulling off some of the fin material, to see what was behind it.
Miraculously, the leaks stopped...at least for the past three days.  I'm driving around with the
lower grill off and checking the radiator all the time, but no leaks!  Strange, but I'm not
complaining.  But I'd still like to know if the passages that leak are accessible, and if a hole
could be soldered, or epoxied.

John

----- Original Message -----
From: "jimt" <camper@TACTICAL-BUS.INFO>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2005 10:12 AM
Subject: Re: Finding and repairing small radiator leak?

On 3/30/05 19:55, "jbclem1" <jbclem1@CHARTER.NET> wrote:

> Appologies to the listserv...I sent this message to you by mistake.  Here it
> is again;
>
>
> My 1983 Westfalia radiator, not all that old, has a small leak obvious only
> when the engine is hot.
> I was looking at the radiator trying to figure out where the leak was coming
> from...from the front
> of the car with the grill off and looking at the radiator you see rows and
> rows of small W like
> fins.  I pulled off about 1/2 inch of fins in two rows in a wet area...the
> fins are way to thin to
> be carrying water... and was wondering if anyone has tried to find a leak this
> way, and then fix it
> (solder, epoxy, ???).  That is, with the radiator in place or removed, taking
> off a small amount of
> fin material, then pressure testing the radiator to see if a hole/leak would
> be noticiable.  If you
> could see a hole then I assume you could solder it shut.
>
> I'm not sure where the water flows, is it going through the horizontal metal
> shelves that contain
> the fins, or are there larger pipes in the middle of the radiator, or both.
>
> Does anyone have any experience or ideas in this area?
>
>
> John
>
>

Use stop leak or similar product.  There is no way to economically repair
the hole even if you were to find it that it wouldn�t be cheaper to put a
new radiator on.   Also how old is that radiator?  It may be reaching the
stage where a new one may be a good idea anyway.
........................................
jimt
Planned insanity is best.
Remember that sanity is optional.
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