How to fix a radiator hose without duct tape

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

At the novice school, one of my radiator hoses developed a pinhole leak at a joint in the hose rather than in a flat portion. It was situated in a place where I couldn't wrap duct tape around it, and it looked like it was going to get worse rather than get better. Neither the Advance Auto nor the Autozone in Sanford had a replacement part, so I had to Macgyver something. What worked really really well was gas tank leak stop, which is a two part putty that cures fairly fast on a hot radiator hose, and is supposedly impervious to both gas and water. We worked that into and around the joint and hole and let that set for about five minutes. Over that, about a tube and a half of crazy glue made sure that it was secured in place over the hose. Worked like a champ for the fifteen runs after that and the ride home!

I'm kind of glad that I let Joel find (introduce?) this leak at the beginning of the day when a couple of instructor fun runs turned into about a dozen -- I'd rather this happen at the beginning of the day than at the end so I didn't miss any seat time.

Joel Heywood · **Joined:** Thu Aug 28, 2003 5:51 pm **Posts:** 108

The gas tank sealer / crazy glue fix rocks. Thanks again for letting me drive the 4 door I had no idea 4 door cars were so much fun. :shock:

If I can make the next event you have to try driving the mustang.

Adam Ligon · **Posted:** Mon Mar 08, 2004 2:49 pm

Joel Heywood wrote:

. Thanks again for letting me drive the 4 door I had no idea 4 door cars were so much fun. :shock:

.

Hey watch it now

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

The crazy glue is starting to come up a little at the edges, I guess that it doesn't like the expansion/contraction of the rubber hose. All I need it to do is last until tomorrow am when I get the replacement from Advance Auto. But it got me home without peeing green all over US1 and let me play all day Sunday.

Carl Fisher · **Posted:** Mon Mar 08, 2004 11:46 pm

When I had a hole in a radiator a few years back, the local parts guy I was using recommended some stuff called Barrs Leak. It's a radiator stop leak- looks like rabbit food in molasses. Worked great, though. He said he put it in all his engines, even brand-new ones, as a preventative.

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

Joel Heywood wrote:

If I can make the next event you have to try driving the mustang.

Shibby.

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

Holy crap, what a pain in the ice! It *only* took 1.75 hours and a half square inch of skin off of my right hand. Evidently the manufacturers decided to add about a half inch of rubber to the ends around the L joint, and that only took me about twenty minutes of pushing pulling and swearing to figure that out. I'm pretty sure that the Haynes manual doesn't say anything about removing the battery and tray either. :roll:

AndersGreen · **Posted:** Fri Mar 12, 2004 11:08 am

For removing? With busted hoses, I always cut a big slit from the end of the hose past the end of the (whatever it connects to). Peel it like a banana.

If you're talking about installing, I'll shut up.

Oh, and didn't you read "Disconnect negative battery terminal... AND place battery 15 feet from car." ??

Anders

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