The Ford Barn

al's28/33 · 11-27-2015, 10:45 PM

Happy Holidays Barners!!!

New radiator from brassworks is 3 years old......I have barely 1,000 miles on it since I do not get to drive my "A" as often as I'ld like.

With the start of the cold season we have had nights in the 40s but nothing major and the car is in a covered garage.

This morning as I check the engine over before an early morning drive I noticed a small puddle right under the front end. The radiator seems to have developed a leak...........DRIP....8 seconds.........DRIP.................8 seconds.........DRIP......so I start the car and proceed on my drive stopping every few blocks to get out and see if the leak continues.....NOTHING........... I get back from my drive of 20 miles......parked in the driveway, NOTHING. Pull into the garage, re-check the engine pull the safety fuse, and place a small plastic pan under the front end just in case......nothing. 10 hours later I go back and check the pan and the puddle is back. But the drips have almost 5 minutes in between.......

Could this be from the cold having some weird effect on my radiator ? could it have developed a crack or leaky solder joint ? is it sweating ?
Did something get loose somewhere I can't find since by this time I have inspected every inch of the top tank, sides, tubes and fins without physically removing the radiator ??

Any of you guys have this type if intermittent leaks with a newer radiator ?

DougT · 11-27-2015, 10:52 PM

Check the hose clamps, especially the lower.

Tom Wesenberg · 11-28-2015, 12:48 AM

I had a cast iron water outlet that wouldn't quit dripping until I smoothed out the mold line with my Dremel. Two years ago my bottom water pipe developed a pin hole leak while I was on a 120 mile day trip. I had to tape it up to get home.

al's28/33 · 11-28-2015, 09:55 AM

problem solved.....loose hose clamp and I thought I had checked everything in detail the first time, thanks for the reminders to be more thorough!

BILL WILLIAMSON · 11-28-2015, 10:19 AM

Even with Aeroseal hose clamps & new hoses, ever once in awhile Minerva would drip @ a hose connection. A re-tightening & she was good, until the next time?????
Bill W.

msmaron · 11-28-2015, 05:08 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

same issue, turned out to be a tiny rivet that was at the bottom of the tank, vibrations and such made it come loose..sent to bergs and fixed in 1 day

11-27-2015, 10:45 PM	#1
al's28/33 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Redwood City, CA Posts: 1,591	random radiator leak mystery to me Happy Holidays Barners!!! New radiator from brassworks is 3 years old......I have barely 1,000 miles on it since I do not get to drive my "A" as often as I'ld like. With the start of the cold season we have had nights in the 40s but nothing major and the car is in a covered garage. This morning as I check the engine over before an early morning drive I noticed a small puddle right under the front end. The radiator seems to have developed a leak...........DRIP....8 seconds.........DRIP.................8 seconds.........DRIP......so I start the car and proceed on my drive stopping every few blocks to get out and see if the leak continues.....NOTHING........... I get back from my drive of 20 miles......parked in the driveway, NOTHING. Pull into the garage, re-check the engine pull the safety fuse, and place a small plastic pan under the front end just in case......nothing. 10 hours later I go back and check the pan and the puddle is back. But the drips have almost 5 minutes in between....... Could this be from the cold having some weird effect on my radiator ? could it have developed a crack or leaky solder joint ? is it sweating ? Did something get loose somewhere I can't find since by this time I have inspected every inch of the top tank, sides, tubes and fins without physically removing the radiator ?? Any of you guys have this type if intermittent leaks with a newer radiator ? __________________ 1928 "A" Phaeton (mid year with many early features) 1933 "V8" Closed-Cab Pickup Truck (originally a Model B, 4 Cylinder dating to May, 1933)

11-27-2015, 10:52 PM	#2
DougT Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 53	Re: random radiator leak mystery to me Check the hose clamps, especially the lower.

11-28-2015, 12:48 AM	#3
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: random radiator leak mystery to me I had a cast iron water outlet that wouldn't quit dripping until I smoothed out the mold line with my Dremel. Two years ago my bottom water pipe developed a pin hole leak while I was on a 120 mile day trip. I had to tape it up to get home.

11-28-2015, 09:55 AM	#4
al's28/33 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Redwood City, CA Posts: 1,591	Re: random radiator leak mystery to me problem solved.....loose hose clamp and I thought I had checked everything in detail the first time, thanks for the reminders to be more thorough! __________________ 1928 "A" Phaeton (mid year with many early features) 1933 "V8" Closed-Cab Pickup Truck (originally a Model B, 4 Cylinder dating to May, 1933)

11-28-2015, 10:19 AM	#5
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: random radiator leak mystery to me Even with Aeroseal hose clamps & new hoses, ever once in awhile Minerva would drip @ a hose connection. A re-tightening & she was good, until the next time????? Bill W. __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"

11-28-2015, 05:08 PM	#6
msmaron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wauconda, IL Posts: 3,600	Re: random radiator leak mystery to me Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) same issue, turned out to be a tiny rivet that was at the bottom of the tank, vibrations and such made it come loose..sent to bergs and fixed in 1 day __________________ Mark Maron Ill., Region MARC & MAFCA MARC JSC Member MAFFI Trustee National Facebook Admin. https://www.facebook.com/groups/MARC.group/ A7191-Sport Coupe 29 Roadster 29-Town Sedan 29-Original Special Coupe