Is it bad to run an engine like this?

[scvs6]

Hey guys,

This may be a stupid question, mainly because I am a mechanic and I am asking this question.

I can hear air hissing out of the top of the radiator core on my WH Statesman V6. Now I know that it is leaking, and I have purchased a brand new radiator. Now because the air/coolant can escape, its not building up pressure, you can tell just by feeling the radiator hoses that there is not much pressure when hot.

My question is, is it bad to drive around like that? (No pressure can build up). Can it damage the engine or anything else?

The hole in the radiator is only a tiny pin hole. It doesn't even lose coolant but the radiator looks corroded and I can hear/see it leaking, hence why I am replacing it. But I need to use the car tomorrow before I take it off the road for a day to do the repairs (changing radiator, radiator cap, heater hoses, radiator hoses, heater tap, etc).

If it is a bad idea to drive it because it can't build up the pressure, then I might have to risk driving the VS tomorrow. But if I get caught by the cops, ill end up with a massive fine, lose points, and wont be able to drive the car home (high powered vehicle on P's).

Thanks in advance.

[aaronevolution]

How far do you have to drive?

Last time I had a coolant leak, I lost about half a litre in a carpark before I realized, drove 20 minutes home, left it over night then drove it to the mechanics the next day.

[scvs6]

I have to drive about 60-80kms. Then once I get back home, ill let it cool down and start pulling it down.

[one_and_only2004]

I've driven further with a dodgy radiator, just give it a go and check every 10kms or so - worse case scenario is you have to get a tow by NRMA or someone.

[TI3VOM]

Wouldn't it be like driving a car with a leaking radiator? A leaking radiator has a hole or crack where coolant is escaping from, which also means pressure is escaping as well doesn't it?

[woteva]

If the radiator cannot build pressure, the coolant boiling point is lowered. HowStuffWorks "How Car Cooling Systems Work"

[ucwepn]

I kept driving with mine with a pinhole leak but it got worse until it started overheating every 5 mins then I had to pull it off the road. it was ok for 2 weeks or so before this. and seems fine now with a new radiator, its a risky thing though.

[m1lky]

Just get a temporary radiator repair kit and bung the hole up with some glue.

[scvs6]

I put a bottle of Wynns Radiator Stop Leak in it so hopefully that should seal it up for now. I don't want to take a risk and drive the VS (as much as I would like to). It's probably still the original radiator. I took the cold air intake and the plastic covers off and you can see where its leaking from, but I can only hear air hissing out, its right near the top of the core so I shouldn't really lose too much water if it does decide to leak.

I don't know how long its been like that for though, I only noticed it yesterday as I got to work.

[*uwishn*]

Your radiator cap may be a little sus also?

[pablo]

I have fixed small holes in fuel tanks by screwing in a self tapper with neoprene washer. If you can get to the hole, this may be a temp fix for you.

[moz_and_paul911]

You can use toothpaste to fix a small leak. Was done on myth busters and it worked. As for driving it, as long as you watch the temp guage. The cooling system is exactly that, cools the engine. If you didnt have one the only thing that would happen is the engine would over heat. So as long as it doesn't do that you'll be fine mate

[lout]

you can drive a car with radiator cap removed so it will not build pressure
cooling will be reduced so no towing or drag racing
if you try to repair your radiator and it is on it's last legs it will blow at the next weakest place which may be the side tank or near the bottom and then you aren't going anywhere

[FstStig]

Put some Eggs in it, should keep it sealed up long enough.

[scvs6]

Well I just got back and I didn't break down. When I got to the place I was going it was good, but when I went to leave, there was a puddle of coolant on the ground, looks like it came from the overflow bottle. The water wasn't down or anything so I drove it home. Temp gauge was normal the whole time.

Now ill wait until it cools down and fit the new radiator, hoses, cap, heater tap, etc.

I can still honestly say that my Statesman has not let me down Now ill replace the parts to make sure it stays that way haha.

[calaim]

good work my friend. ive driven 400 ks with radiator with a hole in it patched with, no joke, a piece of chewing gum and a piece of alfoil, had to top it up half way but. tough old things arent they?

[scvs6]

Your radiator cap may be a little sus also?

You were also right. The radiator cap ended being faulty as well and thats why it was throwing water out of the overflow bottle.

good work my friend. ive driven 400 ks with radiator with a hole in it patched with, no joke, a piece of chewing gum and a piece of alfoil, had to top it up half way but. tough old things arent they?

Yeah I could have driven it longer but I don't want to risk it. They are very reliable.


I have fitted the new radiator, radiator cap and coolant, have taken it for a decent drive and the temperature gauge was normal the whole time, so ill re-check the coolant in the morning once its cooled down.
Couldn't change the hoses or heater tap, I think I have injured myself because I get a sharp pain across my chest/stomach area when I lean over. I am pretty sure it was from trying to undo head bolts on a Ford Falcon at work. They make me do the work, I end up injuring myself, they might lose a mechanic. So anyway, I might take the hose kit and heater tap back (get my money back) and I will probably replace it at a later date. The hoses actually good pretty good still anyway so I may as well save the money.

[umair]

I got a pinhole leak due to some dodgy mechanics unplugging the fan. I drove it for a week like that and in my experience it only leaked if I stood on a standstill or parked or a stop light too long. It never leaked on the highway. I never was worried on the highway, just worried on the stoplight.

[scvs6]

I got a pinhole leak due to some dodgy mechanics unplugging the fan. I drove it for a week like that and in my experience it only leaked if I stood on a standstill or parked or a stop light too long. It never leaked on the highway. I never was worried on the highway, just worried on the stoplight.

Yeah thats what mine was doing, didn't leak while cruising along, just when the car was stopped at lights or parked. My radiator started leaking because it was corroded and eventually got a pin hole in it.

Next job I would like to do is fix the oil leak (suspect sump gasket), but ill have to wait until I feel better again. It was painful just changing the radiator over, undoing the transmission pipes and radiator hoses.

[calaim]

You were also right. The radiator cap ended being faulty as well and thats why it was throwing water out of the overflow bottle.



Yeah I could have driven it longer but I don't want to risk it. They are very reliable.


I have fitted the new radiator, radiator cap and coolant, have taken it for a decent drive and the temperature gauge was normal the whole time, so ill re-check the coolant in the morning once its cooled down.
Couldn't change the hoses or heater tap, I think I have injured myself because I get a sharp pain across my chest/stomach area when I lean over. I am pretty sure it was from trying to undo head bolts on a Ford Falcon at work. They make me do the work, I end up injuring myself, they might lose a mechanic. So anyway, I might take the hose kit and heater tap back (get my money back) and I will probably replace it at a later date. The hoses actually good pretty good still anyway so I may as well save the money.

Poxy fords!

[DavesCalais]

do not i repeat do not put that stop leak crap in it, its the worst thing ever made it sticks to everything and is a BI$%H to clean out, next time you start the car hold the Mode button and the Down button it will bring up the diagnostic mode continue pressing mode until it comes up with a digital temp reading so you can monitor it when driving, if it gets above 104 id pull over and let it cool down.. Im pressuming your car has the feature as its a stato

[DavesCalais]

also use pepper instead of stop leak, it seals up small holes also and is easier to clean out.. I drove home from adelaide 2 weeks ago with a blown bottom tank sat on 140 just had the digtal temp up and kept an eye on it

[scvs6]

Poxy fords!

Changing head gaskets on Ford Falcons will probably be the death of me haha. I told the guy that I was working with (also one off the bosses) that I couldn't undo them because they were too tight, but he didn't care, he just wanted be to hurry up and get the job done. Plus I wasn't allowed to use the impact gun because "you have to loosen them by hand first before you use the impact". Just typing this makes me not want to work there even more.

[scvs6]

do not i repeat do not put that stop leak crap in it, its the worst thing ever made it sticks to everything and is a BI$%H to clean out, next time you start the car hold the Mode button and the Down button it will bring up the diagnostic mode continue pressing mode until it comes up with a digital temp reading so you can monitor it when driving, if it gets above 104 id pull over and let it cool down.. Im pressuming your car has the feature as its a stato

also use pepper instead of stop leak, it seals up small holes also and is easier to clean out.. I drove home from adelaide 2 weeks ago with a blown bottom tank sat on 140 just had the digtal temp up and kept an eye on it

New radiator and cap is already fitted, don't need to worry about leaks anymore. I also bought a cooling system pressure tester off eBay. Now I can pressure test my cars and check for leaks if they start losing coolant.

[DavesCalais]

Did you get it back flushed? just had bad experiences with stop leak.. sticks to everything