

| Subject: | Re: Confessions of a blind mechanic |
| From: | Dan N |
| Date: | Tue, 28 Mar 2023 13:20:32 -0700 |
btw... I don't think it will help if you have a hole or a crack in the radiator or some loose clamps.. it's not a radiator Stop Leak as we know of. On Tue, Mar 28, 2023 at 1:07 PM Dan N <dn92610@gmail.com> wrote: > I am not an expert on the leak topic because there are too many factors > involved. I use it (2 bottles for the vanagon) with good results. Before > that I did have problems with seepages. I am not saying with the help of > the Subaru coolant conditioner or not or I am just lucky. > What I heard is that the Subaru coolant conditioner lubricates the water > pump, prevents head gaskets leaks and seepages specially at the connections > of the rubber hoses due to the contraction/expansion of the materials. > > On Tue, Mar 28, 2023 at 12:54 PM Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net> > wrote: > >> Yes, >> >> I’ve heard of it. Maybe in a pinch that would work for something >> like my initial radiator leak? >> >> I know many folks have used it but I’m concerned about how it might >> affect the motor and smaller coolant channels. If I can get the system to >> stop leaking with good parts I hope to start there. >> >> How were you thinking it might be helpful to my situation? >> >> eRic >> >> >> > On Mar 28, 2023, at 2:37 PM, Dan N <dn92610@GMAIL.COM> wrote: >> > >> > hi Eric, >> > >> > Have you heard and consider using of Subaru coolant conditioner? >> > >> > On Tue, Mar 28, 2023 at 11:32 AM Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net> >> wrote: >> > >> >> Correction, date on radiator is 2020, not 2000. >> >> >> >>> On Mar 28, 2023, at 1:39 PM, Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET> >> wrote: >> >>> >> >>> So folks, >> >>> >> >>> Things don’t always go perfectly. >> >>> >> >>> But, so far my most recent mess ups seem to be working out ok. >> >>> >> >>> I was excited to find a South African radiator from 2000. Hoping it >> is >> >> one of the rare good ones. The unit was triple packed and had the most >> >> desirable radiator name on the outside. >> >>> >> >>> So, I wanted to get everything done so a friend could help me bleed >> the >> >> system. >> >>> >> >>> Mistakes began to happen. >> >>> >> >>> I put on the hoses in advance and as a expert stopped in I asked him >> >> about the sensor install and he installed it. >> >>> >> >>> I then positioned the radiator with fan shroud in place and got it >> onto >> >> a wide jack. >> >>> >> >>> I double checked position and location of wires and fan and sensor >> >> plugs. >> >>> >> >>> New bushings on the radiator and time to put into place. >> >>> >> >>> I raised very slowly and kept checking for wires and anything else >> that >> >> might be caught or out of place. >> >>> >> >>> Slowly, slowly, check, check again. >> >>> >> >>> Then a sound, a sort of metal crick. I looked everywhere for the >> >> source. And then noticed, the temp sensor sticks out of radiator and >> was >> >> under the metal of the van. >> >>> >> >>> My heart stoped. I lowered the jack a bit and moved the >> radiator >> >> to clear the sensor. >> >>> >> >>> I felt all around it and all seemed good. >> >>> >> >>> I had thoughts of a destroyed radiator. >> >>> >> >>> What to do? Well keep going. Hope for the best. >> >>> >> >>> Slowly continued and then put in the lower brackets all seemed good. >> >>> >> >>> Attach the two rubber hoses and pipes. I marked the position of each >> >> with tactile markers. >> >>> >> >>> I added coolant back and massaged hoses and then pressurized getting a >> >> gallon in. I opened the radiator bleeder and then put a couple pounds >> of >> >> pressure in the tank and got more coolant into the system. >> >>> >> >>> But then I noticed coolant at the front. I looked and realized the >> >> lower bracket was pressing against the hose clamp screw. Had this >> messed >> >> up the hose? Or worse cracked the radiator plastic. >> >>> >> >>> I lowered the bracket and adjusted the clamp to a better position. >> >>> >> >>> Re check. Still a leak. >> >>> >> >>> Then I realized. Maybe the radiator bleeder? >> >>> >> >>> I closed it and put a few pounds in. No leaks. >> >>> >> >>> Later we bled the system and hit a bump when my friend messed with the >> >> bleeder. >> >>> But, system was likely fully pressurized. >> >>> >> >>> No leaks from sensor, no leak from front hoses and connection areas. >> >>> >> >>> So, maybe these blind person errors didn’t do the serious damage I was >> >> afraid of. >> >>> >> >>> But, only time and a fully running system, and a fan turning on and >> off >> >> will see. >> >>> >> >>> Fingers crossed. >> >>> >> >>> I try so hard to be careful but sometimes bad luck and no vision get >> me. >> >>> >> >>> But, more often then not, good luck and care get me through. >> >>> >> >>> So, darn it, mistakes happen. >> >>> >> >>> Now to get that new rear bleeder on and see if I’m good to go. >> >>> >> >>> Eric Caron >> >> >> >>
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