Truck radiators, much like car radiators, work to keep the engine in the vehicle from overheating. A truck engine generates a great deal of heat, and the radiator forces coolant through the cooling system and into the engine, circulating the coolant and sending it back through the engine. A truck radiator also reduces the coolant's temperature by radiating heat from the surface of the radiator. Since the truck's radiator performs such a crucial job, any repairs to it should be made immediately to prevent any difficulties with the engine or the radiator itself.
Instructions
- 1
Open the hood of the truck and inspect the radiator for any punctures in the surface and/or road debris, including rocks, leaves and dirt that may cause blockages. Check the hoses for rips and/or tears. Use a pressure testing kit to check the ability of the radiator to maintain proper pressure or open the radiator and fill it, then start the engine and observe it to check for any overheating or leaks.
2Spray the radiator with a water hose or a high-pressure air hose to clear out any debris and reveal any blockages, breaks and/or punctures. Clean the radiator surface as well as the hoses to reveal any visible damage.
3Open the truck's radiator cap once the radiator and engine have both cooled down. Add a bottle of cooling system sealant into the truck's radiator. Cooling system sealant is available in pellet and powder form, and both versions work the same way. The sealant fills small holes by swelling into the gaps to form a seal. After adding the sealant, the truck must be driven for at least 30 minutes to warm up and give the sealant a chance to fill in holes and/or cracks.
4Detach the truck's radiator hose after the vehicle has cooled down. Replace the hose with a new one, taking care to clean the hose connectors. Check the condition of the metal rings as well.
5Pull off both radiator hoses and drain the radiator. Remove the radiator braces and pull the radiator from the truck. Clean and sand the broken piece on the truck's radiator, making certain to sand both sides of the break. Heat both sides with an air-free plastic welder then use the welder to melt the plastic welding rod onto the break. Press the two sides together and hold them until the welding job sets.
6Sand the puncture area on the surface of the truck's radiator. Fill the puncture with a commercial epoxy and allow the patch job (cold weld) to set for two hours. Remount the radiator into the truck and reattach the hoses. Fill the radiator with coolant.
