270K miles radiator cracked

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

robgreg75

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 7, 2011
Posts
154
Reaction score
106
I replaced the water pump a few months ago for a slow leak and being noisy. Today replaced the radiator which wasn't too bad of a job. A few days ago I noticed that the water was getting low and could smell coolant faintly so I replaced the cap since the o-Ring was completely hard and flat. LOL that made the leak worse since now the pressure was being held by the cap and I found the leak in the plastic tank on the drivers side, it cracked. I am so glad there is a Summit only 10 minutes away they had a radiator in stock for $172 after tax.
 

rockola1971

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2016
Posts
2,376
Reaction score
2,972
Location
Indiana (formerly IL)
Not at all unusual. The quality of radiators these days isnt what it use to be. Its a crap shoot going the aftermarket route and honestly they just havent perfected the whole plast tank with orings design even though its been around decades now.
 
OP
OP
robgreg75

robgreg75

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 7, 2011
Posts
154
Reaction score
106
Not at all unusual. The quality of radiators these days isnt what it use to be. Its a crap shoot going the aftermarket route and honestly they just havent perfected the whole plast tank with orings design even though its been around decades now.
with 270k miles I hope it will live the rest of the cars life.
 

rockola1971

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2016
Posts
2,376
Reaction score
2,972
Location
Indiana (formerly IL)
with 270k miles I hope it will live the rest of the cars life.
It should have and likely would have if you would have put an OEM in there, look how long the original lasted. But honestly even the oem can fail early too. The whole design is a cost cutting measure and the design itself sets itself up for failure for even the slightest short cut during the manufacturing process. Whats that saying about built on Monday or was it Friday?
 
OP
OP
robgreg75

robgreg75

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 7, 2011
Posts
154
Reaction score
106
if it lasts at least 30k miles all good. I bought this Tahoe new and never expected to have a car for this many miles. Just want it to hit 300K.
 

rockola1971

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2016
Posts
2,376
Reaction score
2,972
Location
Indiana (formerly IL)
if it lasts at least 30k miles all good. I bought this Tahoe new and never expected to have a car for this many miles. Just want it to hit 300K.
All you have to do on the LS series engines is change the oil. You just will not wear out a LS series engine much before 300k. Usually if a LS engine is acting a fool its because of stupid crap like VVT, DOD that fails. Its not normally bearing failure or rods breaking for normal on the road driving and use. I remember when it was a thing to make it to 100-115k with a gen 1 engine. I have a good (older) friend that told me of the times where they had to have valve jobs done about every 10-15k (this was before unleaded gas). Granted back then people didnt drive as much as we do now annually but could you imagine having to do a topend rebuild every year to 15 months? That would suck but I guess we would get fast after the first or second time and have it down like clock work. Tear down in the morning, wait for heads back or have a set ready since they are so cheap and put it all back together that night. Spare set of heads ready to go is what I would do if it were like that.
 

Sparksalot

Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 20, 2020
Posts
5,062
Reaction score
13,735
Location
Bastrop County, Texas
Mine let go in Big Bend, 20 miles from pavement. Same spot as yours. Fortunately I have 11 gallons of water on board and was able to nurse it back to camp. Some JB weld, and a loose pressure cap let me finish the trip and drive 450 miles home.

Summit had the Cold Case radiator at my door 2 days later.
 

Attachments

  • A6A1C5BC-7B3B-4E12-9915-1253BF5F1BB0.jpeg
    A6A1C5BC-7B3B-4E12-9915-1253BF5F1BB0.jpeg
    517.8 KB · Views: 9
  • 20101CEA-6D46-42C8-9C7F-C6E56BD31706.jpeg
    20101CEA-6D46-42C8-9C7F-C6E56BD31706.jpeg
    512.9 KB · Views: 10
OP
OP
robgreg75

robgreg75

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 7, 2011
Posts
154
Reaction score
106
Mine let go in Big Bend, 20 miles from pavement. Same spot as yours. Fortunately I have 11 gallons of water on board and was able to nurse it back to camp. Some JB weld, and a loose pressure cap let me finish the trip and drive 450 miles home.

Summit had the Cold Case radiator at my door 2 days later.
That's a much better radiator than the one I put in, that one should last forever.

Are you running a dual battery setup?
 

bobsburban

Member
Joined
Aug 19, 2020
Posts
96
Reaction score
169
I can vouch for the Cold Case 3" radiator, though it took two tries to get it right (I hope). The first lasted about 9 months before failing at the left side seams shortly before our Big Bend/Ft. Davis/NM/Palo Duro Canyon trip in January. Aluma-seal went into it and I traveled with 3 gallons of 50/50 and ten gallons of tap water; used maybe half a gallon of pre-mix so I can also vouch for Aluma-seal in this instance. Called Cold Case before leaving, sent photos of the leak, got a new radiator shipped back for only the shipping and it was there when we got back.

Interestingly, it fits a lot better than the first one - no bracket mods needed and seems to cool better, even with the Tru-cool in front of it. Did a great job pulling our trailer through the mountains of Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and on into Ohio and Kentucky last month in the 100+ degree heat.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
128,802
Posts
1,805,644
Members
91,785
Latest member
Eliteweapons
Top