Datsunthug Posted September 14, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2016 Radiator is a leaker! Not sure if I want to get a champion aluminum or take it to the radiator shop? And then there are those that say " put some bars leaks or alumaseal". No thanks 1 Quote Link to comment
Lockleaf Posted September 14, 2016 Report Share Posted September 14, 2016 Not a champion. Fully half of the owners on here have leaking issues. Fix it, get a different OE unit, or go premium like koyo. All the inexpensive aluminum radiator companies seen to have about a 50% fail rate. 2 Quote Link to comment
banzai510(hainz) Posted September 14, 2016 Report Share Posted September 14, 2016 be honest my OPL Champion clone had a slight leak in the vains is what I could tell. just install maybe 2months ago I fucking did it last week. Prestone seal. Seems to be working. But I didn't like doing this. But since its new I said fuck it. when that glob came out of that bottle I was like WTF am I doing!!!!!!!!!!! but theres not wet spot on ground . Might still be wet on frame. Knowing what I know now. Get a KOYO or see if a rad shop can fix this. one shop did my stock 521 to a 3 core but he had to see if the top and bottoms are still good. I had another bad spare and he got one of the top or bottom to make one good 3 core. But this was like 15years ago. plus its a perfect fit unlike the spacers needed for the Champions and even the KOYO and maybe wire rerouted as I did in my 521. 1 Quote Link to comment
Datsunthug Posted September 16, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2016 I'll check into the Koyo. It doesn't leak regularly but only when I drive for about 45 minutes pushing the motor going up a hill. Once I park it'll start leaking for a couple minutes and then it stops. So lately when I drive it I just pop the radiator cap once I park to relieve some of the pressure and hasn't leaked since. But there is still a leak and I'd like to fix it because having water is a pretty important thing to have in your radiator Quote Link to comment
banzai510(hainz) Posted September 16, 2016 Report Share Posted September 16, 2016 I run a line into a half full plastic bottle with the cap on so its nice and tight but I use a pop type cap. I was running a 16pound cap then went to the 13 and seems better (after installing the 13 pound cap) I got to ck and see if still ok. Quote Link to comment
Datsunthug Posted September 17, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2016 I like the idea of recore-ing it with more rows. I'll have to check to see if any of the radiator shops in town can do that? 1 Quote Link to comment
Datsunthug Posted October 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2016 I have a small coolant leak between the head and block?!! Will post a pic when I get home. I'm hoping it is just leaking out as opposed to leaking somewhere in cylinder 3. No smoke and runs strong. Not overheating but I can foresee bigger problems if I don't fix it soon 1 Quote Link to comment
flatcat19 Posted October 5, 2016 Report Share Posted October 5, 2016 Leaking on drivers side? 1 Quote Link to comment
Datsunthug Posted October 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2016 Passenger side near dipstick 1 Quote Link to comment
flatcat19 Posted October 5, 2016 Report Share Posted October 5, 2016 Shitty. Make sure it's not the freeze plug on back of head. 2 Quote Link to comment
Datsunthug Posted October 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2016 Looks like it's leaking in a couple spots? Freeze plug is good. I'm thinking I'll pull the rocker cover off and check the torque on the head bolts to see if maybe they aren't up to specs 1 Quote Link to comment
Datsunthug Posted October 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2016 But even if they are, I will have to do a new head gasket and double check the straightness of the surfaces. If a head gasket is even a lil f'ed up its garbage 1 Quote Link to comment
flatcat19 Posted October 6, 2016 Report Share Posted October 6, 2016 Block chain tensioner. 1 Quote Link to comment
Charlie69 Posted October 6, 2016 Report Share Posted October 6, 2016 What is the red looking stuff? Was the head and block surfaces checked for flatness? Were all threds in block and head bolts cleaned before assembly? Was head milled? if so how much? Was block decked? if so how much? What brand of head gasket did you use? Did you check head gasket to head and block to make sure all water ports had holes in the head gasket? Please put head gasket on dry! The only place it is suggessted to use sealer is where the timing cover and block meat and then if you use sealer in this area it is used very sparingly. Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted October 6, 2016 Report Share Posted October 6, 2016 What is the red looking stuff? Looks like rust to me. :( 1 Quote Link to comment
flatcat19 Posted October 6, 2016 Report Share Posted October 6, 2016 Toyota's coolant crusts up like that as soon as it is exposed to heat/air. 1 Quote Link to comment
banzai510(hainz) Posted October 6, 2016 Report Share Posted October 6, 2016 tighen head bolt to say 45. then just run it till it uses a lot of water then change it as most L motors they leak a little. Mine is oil but I just keep running it as I would be doing to many head gaskets. To me its a minor issue 1 Quote Link to comment
Datsunthug Posted October 6, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2016 I'd rather rebuild the l20b in my garage than do the head gasket right now. 1 Quote Link to comment
Datsunthug Posted October 6, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2016 It's the red coolant that looks rusty 1 Quote Link to comment
Datsunthug Posted October 6, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2016 Charlie- nothing was milled or decked. Bolts and threads were chased and cleaned up. Fel pro gasket. The head was brand new rebuilt before I got the truck. Less than 1000k. 1 Quote Link to comment
Charlie69 Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 I have a friend Mark (Pacific Coast Datsun) He called me todayon his 620, A few months ago He was on the highway and his 620 all of a sudden was extremely hot and he was looking for a safe place to pull over when he heard a loud bang and the engine died and would not restart after cooling down and adding coolant. He finally had time today to pull the head after running a dry compression test. Test showed 90 on #1, 30 on #2 & 3, and 170 on #4. He has had al kinds of problems since he purchased it as a rebuilt engine ffrom Al, Datsun Parts LLC, has new business name now. Any way after pulling the head he foung the head gasket was fine and the wear no noticible cracks in the head or block. I told him he needed to tear the engine down completely. He has a spare L20B so he will install it in time. I am going to try and get up to Bull head City to help him tear down the bad engine to find out what happend. Sometimes with engines it is a crap shoot as to what caused a problem. I would check the head and the block on your engine to be sure the surfaces are flat. Quote Link to comment
banzai510(hainz) Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 Charlie I think if you say the block looked fine I would look at that head. Look at valves and valve seats closely. Maybe his valve lash was tight? water in oil recheak the front cover behind water pump for tiny holes. 1 Quote Link to comment
DanielC Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 It is also possible for an oil passage inside the cylinder head to get a leak into the water jacket. When that happens, whatever fluid is at a higher pressure leaks into the wrong place, putting oil in the coolant, and coolant into the oil. 1 Quote Link to comment
Stoffregen Motorsports Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 Somebody used to make a repair sleeve for that internal head crack. You'd put it in with epoxy and then drill out the holes after install. BTW - Hainz, I can hardly understand wtf you're talking about sometimes. 1 Quote Link to comment
flatcat19 Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 BTW - Hainz, I can hardly understand wtf you're talking about sometimes. You can bet your bottom dollar though that he knows what he's talking about. 2 Quote Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.