Crack in radiator

IEATZ28 · Jan 11, 2024

Hey folks,

It appears that my 06 Tahoe has developed a crack in the radiator near the top on the driver's side. Is my only recourse a new radiator? What about Stop leak or Bars leak? Also how full is the coolant reservoir supposed to be? I can't find a full line on it anywhere. TIA!

bill1013 · Jan 11, 2024

Barr’s may help until you can get a new radiator. Spend the extra time and money and get the completely metal radiator. They are expensive but they won’t crack like the OEM ones. And I speak from experience. My 99 Tahoe’s radiator cracked on the plastic side on the top. The OEM replacement cracked too. I spent the extra bucks and ordered the all metal one. I never had any more trouble with cracked radiators.

I believe the coolant catch should be around 1/4 to 3/8 full. Hope this helps. Aloha!

IEATZ28 · Jan 12, 2024

bill1013 said:
Barr’s may help until you can get a new radiator. Spend the extra time and money and get the completely metal radiator. They are expensive but they won’t crack like the OEM ones. And I speak from experience. My 99 Tahoe’s radiator cracked on the plastic side on the top. The OEM replacement cracked too. I spent the extra bucks and ordered the all metal one. I never had any more trouble with cracked radiators.

I believe the coolant catch should be around 1/4 to 3/8 full. Hope this helps. Aloha!

Thank you! I finally found the "full line". Thankfully, it's not super low.

Trey Hardy · Jan 12, 2024

IEATZ28 said:
Thank you! I finally found the "full line". Thankfully, it's not super low.

Gunna have to get a new radiator it’s a common issue most the nicer aluminum ones crack or fit bad other then the mushimoto ones which are expensive but worth the money

strutaeng · Jan 12, 2024

New radiator for sure. Easy to replace, just a few bolts and the hoses. It's likely time for new coolant anyways, so just drain it and put new coolant since you're there.

I wouldn't consider any stop leak products; they can potentially clog something like a heater core or who knows what, and probably won't fix the leak anyway.

Fless · Jan 12, 2024

If the full cold level is not marked on the surge tank, the full level is the seam between the two halves. Half full, half empty.

IEATZ28 · Jan 13, 2024

Follow up…went ahead and put a new one this afternoon. Pretty easy job. Just didn’t like shelling out the shekels this quickly after Christmas. She’s back on the road!

Crack in radiator

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