[200q20v] Hole in Radiator

[Doyt W. Echelberger]

Hello Les............I can't imagine any adhesive or chemical that would 
stick a patch on a plastic radiator and last for more than a few days. The 
best I can come up with is an idea for a stiff patch and a gasket, held on 
by externally applied pressure. Perhaps a band which could be tightened down.

Another related idea would be an inside patch of metal with a flexible 
sealing gasket between the metal and the plastic shell. The internal 
pressure would work to hold on such a patch.

To keep it in place, the metal patch could have a  hole in the center for a 
stainless bolt, with the bolt head inside the radiator, and on the outside 
you would have a similar gasketed metal patch and a washer and double nut, 
to snug the bolt up against.  The whole thing looks like a sandwich with 
the plastic shell in the middle between two gaskets, with washers on either 
side.  Also, as a third idea, think dry wall anchors....those things with 
folding metal ears, that you slide through a hole in the dry wall and the 
ears spring open, and you tighten the bolt up against a washer. Maybe such 
a device would hold on an external and internal patch and gasket, and not 
break the plastic right away.

That's enough ideation for now. Never tried any of those things. Invent 
them and patent them and distribute them and become a millionaire.

Actually, I don't think epoxy and adhesives will survive long in the heat 
of near-boiling antifreeze, plus the  pressure would further degrade the 
adhesives or epoxy.  You might get it to hold for some uncertain period if 
you cleaned all surfaces up chemically clean and dry and roughened up.  But 
the heat and pressure and vibration and temperature cycling will eventually 
do it in.

Better to patch your problem with a metal radiator if you intend to keep 
the car.

Doyt Echelberger

 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
At 11:07 AM 5/29/2001 -0500, you wrote:
Hi guys,
My radiator has developed a hole (in the plastic) from the hydraulic line
rubbing against it.

I want to try a patch before I spend $$ on a new one.

Any advise on adhesive? Any BTDTs?

Les Reid
Tulsa ok
91 200q20v 155k
90 90q 159k
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