Hello all, first post here. I'm sure this question has been asked and resolved in other threads I just haven't been able to navigate my way around yet to find it. My 2007 TL (220k kms about 136k mileage) began to overheat and lose coolant, it was quite easy to find that I was losing coolant through the broken connection to the overflow reservoir. I've done my research online and in most cases the fix is as easy as ordering a replacement hose. However in my case, the actual plastic extension of the radiator that the hose fits on has broken off, as visible in the image below. I'm curious if anyone has experienced this and if there are any fixes to it that will last or if replacing the entire radiator is the only way forward.

 

Time for a new radiator

 

Very easy fix! Get an adapter. One end of the adapter fit inside the hole on the radiator side and the other of the adapter fit your rubber hose. EASY!!


Don’t waste your money on a new radiator! Use your head my friend!

 

Can you give a visual example of said 'adapter' mechanism?

 

Home Depot or autozone
just use common sense!

 

Nice visual, lol.
The only way I would personally contemplate a 'rig' like the one you suggest here is if I could find an outer diameter metal tubing that would fit the inner diameter of that radiator cap neck snug enough to jam it in there tight.

Then I think of all the time I'd waste (opportunity cost, ever here of it?) looking for said appropriate metal tubing when I could have a new radiator, overnighted, from rockauto and invest in that piece of mind instead while going 80 mph on the freeway, lol.

 

trying to save you time and money. Good luck

 

It would be greatly helpful if you can provide a direct product link or relevant video for your adapter piece. Given that I have not seen a solution like this elsewhere and it seems others here are skeptical of your 'common sense' approach, any references to this would be helpful.

I agree Zeta that finding a perfect fit pipe likely would be a goose hunt and would bring me back to the same place later once it blows apart.

 

have you tried just using common sense?

/sarcasm in case it wasnt obvious..

i too would love examples on how to fix this without a new radiator. Denso radiator on RockAuto is only 120 bucks…

 

The only suitable, long-term fix is replacing the radiator. That part broke because the plastic end tank is old and brittle. Some other part of the end tank will start leaking soon enough if they're not already. I noticed my '08 was starting to seep around the end tank joints a few months ago. it was only about an hour of work once the coolant was drained to get the new one in.

a 2 part epoxy in the proper temp range will get it back on the road until the replacement arrives. I have patched holes as large as 3/8" this way in plastic radiator tanks to limp them along for a few days. sometimes there's a slow leak, but it's good enough to keep the engine from overheating. I keep JB quick on hand so that's what I use, but I'm sure there are others that work fine. the putty that comes in a stick that gets kneaded to activate works really nicely too.