skyknight88

Happy Thanksgiving to all.


I recently discovered some wet spots on my driveway, and I look under my car and I can see the blue coolant, dripping from the bumper. I take the bumper off and see the leak is coming from the radiator. Anyone know if this is going to be a big repair, or some leak proof product from Walmart would solve the problem?


A little info of my car, I have a 09 RDX w/ about 45k miles. I'm the original owner, and the reason for the low miles is the 1st two years, the vehicle was only used in snowy condition. Never any front end damage.

RDX10

I read on a forum once that someone was using a product in their power steering reservoir for a power steering leak. Basically it would solidify when exposed to oxygen. This person said it stayed leak proof for many years.

But in this application, I doubt you would want to use this type of product even if it did exist for the radiator. Did you check and see where the leak is exactly coming from? Is it a loose/cracked pipe or it could even be a crack in the radiator. Depending on where the leak is coming from, that would define cost and ease of repair.

rdxron

If you plan on keeping the RDX for a while I wouldn't use any of the coolant system sealers. They do work great but they can plug up your heater core and you'll get little to no heat over time. If your keeping the car fix it properly replace the broken part.

skyknight88

Thx for the replies. I do plan on keeping the RDX for a few more years. I just discovered this leak from removing my headlights to get some work done to it.


I've been doing some searching, and reading other post of ppl having trouble with leaking coolant. I'm sure there's no crack on the radiator, since anything inside is under pressure, and the leak is a very slow drip. I'm hoping it's some bad clamp or hose with an ez fix.


I went back and tried to look again, and I found the leak is corroding this piece, so I better get it fixed before more problems down the road.

DCS

From the picture it looks like at least three of the of the tabs that clamp and seal the tank to the radiator core are not crimped.

Jdrum1

Every Honda product I've ever owned eventually developed a leak where the aluminum and plastic are crimped together.

I always replace will all aluminum aftermarket models (with 100% success so far).

My RDX is on it's original, but I'm sure to keep a close eye on it!

skyknight88

So I ended up getting a new radiator. The Acura sites wanted $311, so I ended up getting the Denso one from partsgeek.


I think it cracked cause I wasn't driving my RDX hard enough. I will from now on drive with a lead foot.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

^DENSO is the OEM Radiator. So you did VERY good!!!

and no, thats not the cause of it.
the posters above you mentioned the cause....the seam where the aluminum and plastic are crimped together gave way.

Can you guess why two different materials will give way?
temperature and maybe a corrosive agent like salt.

thoiboi

I'm glad you saw the light and didn't leave any stone unturned.. Sometimes the "there's no way that could have happened" is the one thing that happened.

skyknight88

I actually saw a big pool of liquid caked on my driveway, so I figured it's bad, and I had a mechanic look at it.

RDX10

Good for you, now you don't have to sit there and shit your pants every time you go somewhere far wondering if the bandaid will hold.

Funny aside, we once owned a murano and I was scared shitless to take that POS far away from home because it had a damn cvt.

Jdrum1

Just did a quick search, and couldn't find an all aluminum radiator for the RDX......

I have a Mishimoto on my s2000, and would like one for my RDX when it's time.

protoRDX

There is no all-aluminum radiator available for the RDXs.

protoRDX

I would also check your ATF and get it replaced asap. The place where that leak occurred is actually an ATF part of the main radiator and both coolant and atf could have mixed.

Jdrum1

Bummer........

skyknight88

there was only blue stains, didn't see any red stains. I don't suspect any ATF leaking.

Update on my situation.......got new radiator and had the old one removed. The pix will tell you the whole story.





I'm in Massachusetts, and last winter we had a very tough winter with a lot of snow. Some of you lucky ppl living in areas with little to no snow may not experience this. Hopefully the new radiator will hold on longer.