thanks in advance for any input.

my question is can a radiator just crack or start to leak without any changes or impact to the radiator?

i ask because last night after going to the store i was sitting on my phone with the cart idling and started noticing smoke from under the hood. at first i thought it was just from the rain. well i pulled off and at the next light it was doing the same. temp gauge never rose above what it normally does.

i couldnt do much searching since it was dark but today when i looked everything looked normal that is until i started the car. before doing so i checked all hoses by squeezing them to see if coolant seeped out. once started and warmed up with the heater on full coolant started to collect along the top edge, closest to the motor, and only on the serpentine belt side up to the filler neck, around the side of the radiator on the passenger side and some on the front top edge.

if i havent messed with the top hose could the filler neck crack on its own? could it just be old and be seeping past where the plastic meets the metal and is held together by the metal finger tabs? im assuming the radiator is leaking and since it drips down onto the lower ic pipe right in front of my dump pipe that when driving its causinfg it to blow onto the dump and my exhaust causing a bit of smoking when i stop.

 

Yes, it can happen.

I had a leak at the top of the radiator where the plastic top mates up with the aluminum portion of the radiator on my 03 Evo 8. I ended up replacing the entire radiator with an oem style replacement radiator. Works fine now and has been leak proof for over 40K miles.

 

Yeah, it also happened to me, right at the filler neck. Just barely noticeable, but I can happen. I used the opportunity to get a Mishimoto aluminum one to replaced with.

 

I had the exact same problem radiator looked fine but was pooling at the top. You can get a decent Aluminum radiator for $250ish, I did the same as chu. It looks much better than stock and fairly easy to install.

 

Anyone know if your suppose to pressure test it with the coolant drained? I rented one and im trying it now with soapy water but all im getting is coolant puddling just like with the car started and I can't seem to find where its coming from. It does seem to be starting right under the filler neck like someone mentioned.

When I pressure it to around 14psi I get quite a steady stream dripping. Should I avoid driving the car until I get a new radiator or can I just top it off and make sure I have antifreeze and water with me? I kinda have to work this weekend and have no other way to work and I doubt I can get a radiator before then even the parts place said its special order.

 

Other the the crimp over the plastic end tank, it's uses a adhesive bond to hold it to the aluminum core. I replaced mine with the Mishimoto for about $225 shipped.

 

You can pressure test it either way. Most people do it with coolant. Coolant leaking is easier to see than air.

As for driving it, I would not. Get it hot and blow the head gasket and you will wish you had rented a car.

 

I can see mines is starting to crack there also. Its just wear and tear.

 

Same thing happened to me. It's from the hose pulling on the radiator when the engine tilts back under hard acceleration. When the radiator gets old the plastic gets brittle.

 

Mine did the same thing also which sprayed coolant on the side of my valve cover. I went and ordered a two row aluminum off of ebay for 147 shipped. Been good ever since.

 

Yeah, the plastic gets brittle and can crack over time due to the heat cycling. I agree, don't drive that thing if it can be avoided.

 

Well Im getting my girl to take me to and from work this coming weekend and ordered a koyo aluminum radiator to avoid future problems. Its annoying being forced into modifying the evo when im tight on money, but im not one of those who just buy oem. If it breaks fix it with something better is the way I see it.