1998 Chevy Suburban K2500 4x4 454 engine (gas)

My suburban has a coolant leak at the upper oil cooler line fitting going
into the radiator. There is a stamped tin nut that holds the fitting and
leak appears to be coming from around this nut.

What is the correct tool for tightening this nut ? I have tried pliers but
I'm afraid its just going to bend the thing up.

Thanks

"cr" <cr (AT) tx (DOT) rr.com> wrote

As most others would say there is a crack in the plastic end housing of the radiator, thats why its leaking.

You will find tighting the nut does little to cure the leak. A new radiator is the only option.
Might as well get new oil cooler lines too.

Cheers

On Dec 1, 4:41 pm, "Martin Riddle" <martin_... (AT) verizon (DOT) net> wrote:
As a temp fix (and I do mean a Temp fix) you can try to put some JB
Weld around it and let it set up. This should stop the leak for a
little while, allowing you to get the new rad.

Yeah - I suspected that might be the issue.

Thanks for the help.

"Martin Riddle" <martin_rid (AT) verizon (DOT) net> wrote

If you're talking about the actual steel oil cooler line itself as in where
it threads into the rad... They have tiny o rings around a recess in the
fitting that end up dry rotting, etc. which causes leaking. I would use
antiseize on the nut with a new o ring or some silicone high temp/gasket
maker stuff. As for the correct tool to tighten this, it's a flare nut
wrench or careful use of vice grips. You shouldn't have to turn it too hard
if the o ring is in good shape. If the leak is actually between the metal
flange and the plastic, you're beat and the rad needs to come out.

I hope this helps as I have had both the rad leak from the plastic itself
which led to a new rad AND I have also had the leaking oil cooler line fixed
with a new o ring. Get the ring o ring from the dealer as there are two
kinds and nothing else seems to fit 'perfectly'.

Thanks,
Andrew.



On 12/2/07 12:50 AM, in article 475247b7$0$8638$4c368faf (AT) roadrunner (DOT) com,
"Chuck/Holly Roberts" <chuck.roberts (AT) tx (DOT) rr.com> wrote:

Martin - you were correct. I found a crack in the plastic tank - just next
to the upper oil cooler fitting. Its a shame to have to replace the entire
radiator when really just one of the tanks is leaking. I looked at having a
radiator shop replace the tank but decided it wasn't worth the risk of
having another problem later. So, I'm in the process of putting a new
radiator in.

Thanks for your help.


"Martin Riddle" <martin_rid (AT) verizon (DOT) net> wrote