my OE 3-row nippon denso radiator is showing signs of leakage at the top end tank. there are green powdery spots that seem like more than just copper corrosion. and i see a pin hole that seeps EVER so slightly. the system has a compromise because the temp gauge was riding high today. the appearance of the pinhole jives with this temp issue and associated coolant loss. the truck doesn't eat coolant, it's losing it.

so...i did find a radiator shop about 30 mins away, as the local go-to shop has closed due to retirement. think it's worth getting this thing fixed or should i just replace? the 3-row core itself looks good - i'm sure they will rod it, but the green along the top seams and the pinhole tell me that it needs something NOW. to me, it seems like a robust design. i've searched and it seems people sweat the capability of the stockers.

I'll be watching this thread. I have a small pin in the top of radiator as well - left hand side. It's been there well over a year but is not affecting the system's ability to cool the engine.

Every once in awhile I have to bleed air out of the system but the temp gauge is steady and does not ride high.

~ Jon

i got one also. mine was taken out and fixed because it was so bad. but the other day i noticed a ever so tiny one again.

thanks guys.

i filled it up tonight, let it idle forever with the heat on to bleed it out, etc. and i can't get it to go much past the lowest line on the temp gauge, even with the heat off and it idling. surely my system was depleted because it took a decent amount of coolant mix to be fulfilled - i can't recall how much but i'd guess almost 4 quarts or so. it bubbled for a while then settled down until the thermostat opened, i topped it off and it bubbled/rocked a little bit do to the idle with all the accessories and fan on, but all was normal so i took it out and it acted fine. this truck has lost coolant since i've had it, since the summer of '08...i've assumed it to always be a slightly leaky heater core + the slightly leaky radiator. it doesn't seem to eat coolant, ie no smoke, plugs all look relatively normal. i was thinking i should try to solder the little tiny hole but i think i'm just going to leave it for a little while and see how it does so i can get an accurate assessment of how much coolant it is losing over what length of time.

so jdavis, you found the hole to introduce air into the system? what would tell you that was happening, the temp gauge bouncing or something?

Rodding is a good idea, and it will get all the little leaks repaired, too. The system needs pressure to hold max temps, and is set up to run pressurized to 13psi. any air leak will kill the coolant recovery effect, leaking water under pressure until the level falls below the hole, and sucking in air when the system cools down.

Ever few months (8 or 9), I hear a gurgling/running water noise behind the dashboard.

The first time It happened it kind of freaked me. Posted a question about the noise on the board and someone suggested it might be air in the heater system. I bleed the system and the noise went away.

Now when I hear the gurgling, I bleed the system and top up the radiator then good to go for a few months.

~ Jon

I would recommend all gen 1 and gen 2 owners who have the stock Rads to pull them and have them rotted/repaired they are getting old and alot of the gen 1 rads will be beyond repair I pulled 4 3 radiators took them in for works and cores were all junk and beyond repair, I did finally find a good donor but it took some time.

Also a good rad shop will build you a custom 3 row my guy here said they start at $300 and can go up to $700 just depends on what you wanted and wallet will let go <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I will say the $300 dollar is a good unit even if it is the bottom of their line of rads looked alot like the stock rad.

One more thing the gen 2 rads are longer than the gen 1 rads but 2 row, I think my next move since i have a body lift is to put a custom 3 row core on the gen 2 tanks\frame just for kicks really i'll let you guys know how it comes out when i do it.

I had a small pin hole in mine, so I just sanded it down to remove any lose debris and to rough up the surface than used solder to seal it. A coat of black high temp paint and is a good as new. Has been working fine for over a year.

well....i think things have escalated, haha. i'm going to make a new thread. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/barf.gif" alt="" />

Had mine re-cored this past spring. I couldn't tell where it was leaking from, turns out there were 2 leaks in the rad, plus a leaking thermostat gasket. I was never sure which side of the truck the leak was coming from. Never would have guessed multiple leaks appear at the same time!