Radiator Repair? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Marshall42 · #1 09-27-2006, 06:33 PM

The radiator on my 82 300sd is leaking from the plastic nipple going to the reserve tank. I tried glue,calking. With no luck. If I take the nipple off completely and screw a threaded brass barbed piece in it's place, is there enough plastic to hold it ?
Any ideas ?
Thanks
Marshall

Motorhead · #2 09-27-2006, 06:53 PM

Playing with a leaky or marginally fixed radiator is just not worth it. If your car is in any kind of good shape, are you willing to risk a $5,000. engine on a marginal radiator?

t walgamuth · #3 09-27-2006, 10:44 PM

i agree with motorhead.

and in answer to your question, i doubt there is enough meat to accept threads and hold.

as a temporary fix you might be able to do it and get it to hold with epoxy paste.

tom w

Bens lover · #4 09-27-2006, 11:04 PM

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Angry Dont touch the over flow hose on your radiator!
Hey folk's..
Your damn if you do and your damn if you dont!
I was doing a winter check up on my 1983 300SD when all I did was touch the small hose that goes from the over flow bottle to the rad....And guess what.The darn nipple broke off on the top of the radiator where the other end of the hose goes in too....Grrrrrrr f*^%$$#@@#%$%.
Well I had to get myself a new rad..300$
And the story goes like this...Only do a visual and dont touch the darn thing! lol
Yall come back now!
Regards
Dan
Vancouver Canada

Motorhead · #5 09-27-2006, 11:48 PM

Chances are too that if the small nipple was brittle then the top neck is too. I was working on my daughters '85 300 and barely pushed on the top neck and it cracked. I was mad for a while but then decided that it was a lot better that it happened in the driveway than to my daughter some night comming home from college on the freeway. Her radiator was the origional.... It lasted 20 years!! Most American cars are lucky to get 10 years out of a radiator.

Matt L · #6 09-28-2006, 12:17 AM

I'm with Motorhead on this one too. Sorry Benz Lover, but if it's brittle enough to break under gentle hand pressure, the vibration of the car will make it fail on the road eventually.

As Motorhead said, it's better to break in the driveway than on the road. Then you get to add a tow to your repair costs.

blueranger · #7 09-28-2006, 01:17 AM

i was replacing a radiator with a borken neck and I broke the nipple on the new radiator....
so I went to autozone and bought a plastic piece with barbs on it.... I found it in the vaccum section... i attached it to the hose and slipped it into the hole of the former nipple... and it has held preasure for the last few years.

t walgamuth · #8 09-28-2006, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt L

I'm with Motorhead on this one too. Sorry Benz Lover, but if it's brittle enough to break under gentle hand pressure, the vibration of the car will make it fail on the road eventually.

As Motorhead said, it's better to break in the driveway than on the road. Then you get to add a tow to your repair costs.

i agree if you cant wiggle it with your fingers and not break it then you better change the rad anyway!

tom w

Bens lover · #9 09-28-2006, 11:41 AM

Oh I totaly agree on that,I happy in a way that it did happen here in my back yard...

vstech · #10 09-28-2006, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueranger

i was replacing a radiator with a borken neck and I broke the nipple on the new radiator....
so I went to autozone and bought a plastic piece with barbs on it.... I found it in the vaccum section... i attached it to the hose and slipped it into the hole of the former nipple... and it has held preasure for the last few years.

yeah, don't try this on an old radiator... shouldn't try with a new one. but at least it is strong and clean! not brittle.
John

Sbean · #11 09-28-2006, 01:30 PM

A short piece of one-inch copper pipe will fit nicely inside the nipple. Epoxy in place as a splice. Steve

vstech · #12 09-28-2006, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sbean

A short piece of one-inch copper pipe will fit nicely inside the nipple. Epoxy in place as a splice. Steve

I had no idea the small pipe was that large. maybe the lower pipe to the overflow tank is that large, at least on mine, but the small one is more like 3/8"
SBean, have you actually used copper pipe for a repair and had it hold up? what did you use to bond it? epoxy? JBweld? thanks,
John

Bens lover · #13 10-30-2006, 11:17 PM

Evening all!
Just a foot note on this subject...
Since the replacement of my engine Radiator the engine has been running somewhat cooler.
This morning when I left for work at 05.00AM the outside temperature was -2C and for the duration of my trip to work (approx) 45 minutes the temperature gauge was 1 line above the 80c mark.
And my second question is this...
Is it harmfull to have a diesel purge done several times a year?

Best Reagrds

Dan
Vancouver Canada

Marshall42 · #14 11-01-2006, 09:13 PM

I could not spend the money for a new radiator. Most of the money is going to airfare so my wife can see her very ill sister in South Africa. I used to work as a BMW motorcycle mechanic. I remembered that there was a brass tire valve used for some of the bikes. Found one in my tool box. I cut the leaking nipple off the radiator, and drilled a 5/16" hole in the radiator. The tire valve has a flat flange at the base with a rubber gasket for both sides. I disconnected the larger top hose opposite the nipple. I slid a piece of wire thru the nipple whole and pulled it thru the larger opening. I then attached the tire valve with one rubber gasket to the wire, curling the end of the wire so it would not fall off. I pulled it thru the nipple opening and put the other rubber gasket on, a metal washer and the nut. I tightened it down and slid the hose back on and clamped it. That was 400 miles ago and no leaks. I know I am taking a chance but as Popeye said, a mansk gotta do what a mansk gotta do uk uk uk uk.

vstech · #15 11-01-2006, 09:40 PM

yeah, but is your car eating the spinach?
boy do I miss the Popeye cartoons.