Hi, today I opened the radiator cap and then I realized it was broken. The parts under neath the radiator cap (rubber or metal ring and the spring...) were stuck inside the radiator! I only managed to get the spring out and the rest of the stuff still remaining inside the radiator and no where to be found. Can I just flush out the radiator and hopefully they will come out or do I need to buy a new radiator? BTW is it still safe to drive the car? Thx.

96 RL with 165k.

 

Anyone? BTW can the broken pieces get into the engine?

 

 

My brother had that happen in his 95 civic... It looks like the plastic just got weak after a while. I ended up pulling the radiator out and I turned it upside down because the piece was stuck in the top tank somewhere. It came right out after some shaking.

I would try to get the piece out because It could either get into the thermostat or worse yet the water pump.

 

Sound like a very bad problem! I need to get that thing out! Thx man.

 

yeah what he said. If the pieces are big enough they will probably not go through the radiator and stay in the top.

 

Yup it stayed in the top on my brothers car... No telling how long it was actually broken lol.

 

I'm planning to get the Koyo radiator, since my radiator is pretty old lol why don't I just put a new one in for safety.
Is Koyo radiator any good? They listed for $500 but I found a place going around for $200.

 

Koyorad = I currently have one in my RL.

 

Great! Do you remember what is the model #? I found one with the transmission oil cooler but no engine oil cooler. I have a 96 RL, do I need both transmission cooler and engine cooler?

 

Off their site, radiator:
Part# A1912

You probably don't need a transmission cooler, I doubt you are driving the car crazy enough to warrant one.