Stop Leak In Radiator ?? Pics + Trans Cooler

[Wedgy]

I was cruising the CL ads and found a broken '97 Limited 230K miles for sale, asking $1,500, checked it out on a Wednesday, was a little more engine work than I wanted(overheated & seized) They said a scrapper was going to give the $1,000 on Saturday if it didn't sell but they would accept that now. They texted me Thursday for $800 and on Friday I offered $500 and we had a deal, they were catching a ride to their newest "sofa to crash on" and were desperate. I would have paid the $1,000 just so it didn't get scrapped, they were going to try selling parts off it but didn't have time. Faded clear coat, body is perfect, interior is dirty & stinks but great condition, new battery, ~new tires, trans fluid is good, Cali car w/ no rust, and the Tule rack came along too. It's actually in better condition than my 4runner except for the motor.
The radiator leaked and they tried to patch it externally and some "Stop Leak" stuff but still managed to run it out of water and kill it.
Seems like the trans cooler is corroding at the aluminum fittings and the radiator fins get a good coating of sealer. I hate to see what it does to the rest of the engine and heater core.
Note the "brown milkshake" and it's ~7 quarts over full.
There he is with his new brother...or sister.

 

[octanejunkie]

Nice find!

Looks like a pink milkshake was gonna happen based on the corrosion on the trans cooler rad fittings

Starting a build thread?

 

[tcbaklash]

I don't know how they can still get away with selling "stop leak" fluids. I once bought a truck with a radiator that was 2/3 of the way clogged with that crap and the previous owner had been running it with warped heads for about 4 years because he was clueless and lucky. You're never going to get it all the way out of the radiator. Replace, replace, replace.

 

[gamefreakgc]

Is that stop leak or did they mix fluids? Looks like to me they put the wrong antifreeze in when the head gasket blew and just kept running it into the ground.

 

[theriddler]

Stop leak is evil and a scam just like a lot of the other products of a parts store shelf.

Good find though, especially for a rust free one....heck the Thule cargo carrier has got to be worth something (I need one of those actually). New motor, tranny, and radiator and you should be good to go! BTW, that looks like the engine oil dipstick. I don't believe the transmission dipstick on mine has the holes on it but I know my engine one does

 

[Wedgy]

.

BTW, that looks like the engine oil dipstick. I don't believe the transmission dipstick on mine has the holes on it but I know my engine one does

Yes, that is the way over full engine oil mixed with water, coolant, and whatever else they added to the radiator.

 

[nissanh]

Good find.
A new radiator on ebay would have cost less on the time and money they spent to patch the leaky radiator! Being cheap made them to lose a nice truck for nothing.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

I'm betting that the head gasket repair goop.

Shame the engine is probably toast enough it's not worth rebuilding.


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