Mine had the same leak a while back. J did the same as you, RTV on the screw and stuck it back in. I've barely driven it since then, but I haven't noticed any leakage.

 

You can leave it connected. You will have to wiggle it free from the radiator. It has slots and one 10mm securing it to the radiator.

 

OK that's good. Thanks.

 

If you use JBweld you don't need a new radiator.


Remove some coolant, spray cracked area with some carb cleaner or other super chemical, starting fluid, brake cleaner, etc...


Mix up some JBweld, pay attention to the JB, if its adhering and sticking to the plastic, youll have a good seal, if it isn't then the plastic isn't clean enough.


Lather that stuff on there, build it up, whatever, and then get our your dremel and shape it.


That stuff bonds fantastic and is stronger than that plastic.


Put the new radiator on the shelf and wait until you really need it.

 

Yeah, unless it's very old and probly stopped up anyway, I'd try JB or RTV to stop the leak.

 

Kind of too late for that. I just put in the new one...

But I'm glad I replaced it anyway. There was a lot of junk/sediment in the bottom of the radiator (probably from running dex-cool for 100k). It's also my daily driver so having a new radiator lets me trust the car a bit more.

 

To me $100.00-150.00 Radiator is a small price to pay vs running around with a patched up cooling system that "could" fail at any time.

 

I totally agree.

 

Please don't Eff with an old radiator.
Pull it out.
Throw it in recycle.
Get a new Nissens radiator from RockAuto
cheapest way to go.

 

Got a Nissens from Lucky8 (had some issues with RockAuto before)

I put it in two days ago and haven't had any issues.