Tranmission cooler lines leaking at new radiator-Help

[gtphill]

Hello all,

 

I put a new radiator in my Regal (Series 1 3800 w/AT) today, which was pretty straightforward, except that i am now leaking tranny fluid in three places. One is one of the rubber/metal hybrid hoses that form the send/return loop to the tranny. I figure I can splice this hose no problem.

 

The problem is that the flared metal swage'ish fittings that connect directly to the radiator (made by Modine). I cleaned these, and checked for pitting, before I attached them back to the car. These are on the left side if you are standing in front of the hood, looking at the engine.

 

Now they are not holding against pressure (car in drive with the parking brake on), and I am scared to tighten them anymore, as the Modine has warnings all over it about stripping the threads to the tranny cooler. I don't have a torque wrence that I can get on these fittings, so do you have any hints to make these fit better? I am missing a gasket or something?

 

I searched the forum before posting. I don't want to mindlessly crank on these if I am missing something. I definitely don't want to strip the fragile-seeming connectors modine has placed in the replacement radiator.

 

Thanks!

[Robby1870]

So you are talking about where the metal lines screw into the radiator? Just wanna clarify.

[Supreme Cutlass]

I would just put in an aftermarket cooler and call it good.

[gimper]

Hello,

 

If the hose it selfs leaks you can simply cut it and repair it (even if it's a bit of a trash repair -- compared to getting a new hose). However I assume it's leaking between the radiator fitting and the metal lines you screw into the radiator.

 

You are right you can't over tight them, you can tight them pretty hard but don't use dumb amount of force. I had this problem before -- it doesn't take much of a nick or burr and they leak. You can fix this in two ways:

 

1: Teflon tape, teflon tape the pipe and just over the flaring. Just make sure nothing gets into the pipe (will clog the tranny). Now mount it back and tighten it pretty hard and it should be tight.

 

2: If you get a somewhat thick o-ring that fits to the bottom where the flare of the pipe meets the radiator. Put the o-ring in and tighten it up pretty hard and it should be tight.

 

Cheers Gimper

[gtphill]

So you are talking about where the metal lines screw into the radiator? Just wanna clarify.

 

Well i am talking about the metal lines, as they are leaking, and ALSO a small leak at the junction box at the bottom center of the radiator mount. The latter problem is not the one i am that worried about.

 

The main problem is the main METAL fittings that go directly into the radiator. Both upper and lower are leaking.

[gtphill]

I would just put in an aftermarket cooler and call it good.

 

Normally I would agree with you, but this car is sold. Putting a new radiator in was something that I agreed to do for new the owner, as he gave me a good price for the car, paid for the radiator, and is a personal friend.

[gtphill]

Hello,

 

If the hose it selfs leaks you can simply cut it and repair it (even if it's a bit of a trash repair -- compared to getting a new hose). However I assume it's leaking between the radiator fitting and the metal lines you screw into the radiator.

 

You are right you can't over tight them, you can tight them pretty hard but don't use dumb amount of force. I had this problem before -- it doesn't take much of a nick or burr and they leak. You can fix this in two ways:

 

1: Teflon tape, teflon tape the pipe and just over the flaring. Just make sure nothing gets into the pipe (will clog the tranny). Now mount it back and tighten it pretty hard and it should be tight.

 

2: If you get a somewhat thick o-ring that fits to the bottom where the flare of the pipe meets the radiator. Put the o-ring in and tighten it up pretty hard and it should be tight.

 

Cheers Gimper

 

I was thinking about teflon tape, but wish a metal on metal fix would work. I am glad to hear that I am not the only one who has had to deal with this!

 

 

[gimper]

Give it a try - I mean if it doesn't work no loss so to say. Shit happens quite often, when you fix with cars just think out of the box and you can solve most problem......

 

Gimper

 

 

 

 

 

I was thinking about teflon tape, but wish a metal on metal fix would work. I am glad to hear that I am not the only one who has had to deal with this!

 

 

[gtphill]

Give it a try - I mean if it doesn't work no loss so to say. Shit happens quite often, when you fix with cars just think out of the box and you can solve most problem......

 

Gimper

 

 

 

 

 

I was thinking about teflon tape, but wish a metal on metal fix would work. I am glad to hear that I am not the only one who has had to deal with this!

 

 

 

I ordered some expanded PTFE (ie Teflon) sealing washers from McMaster, and have teflon tape for the fitting and threads. We will see if that fixes me up by saturday morning!

[gtphill]

Give it a try - I mean if it doesn't work no loss so to say. Shit happens quite often, when you fix with cars just think out of the box and you can solve most problem......

 

Gimper

 

 

 

 

 

I was thinking about teflon tape, but wish a metal on metal fix would work. I am glad to hear that I am not the only one who has had to deal with this!

 

 

 

I ordered some expanded PTFE (ie Teflon) sealing washers from McMaster, and have teflon tape for the fitting and threads. We will see if that fixes me up by saturday morning!

 

So, Gimper, I took your advice. I carefully cleaned the flares of the tubes, and the new radiator, I wrapped the flare tube with teflon tape, and triple-wrapped the threads with teflon tape, and then I cinched the whole thing down a lot tighter than I had before, praying nothing would strip.

 

Fired it up, dry as bone. Let it idle in park for 30minutes, still dry. Drove 25miles last night with paper towel zip-tied to the fittings, not a drop! I call it mission accomplished!