I came out of a store and walked up to my truck and seen something leaking. It's the drain valve. I tried tightening it, but it only get's so tight and then keep's on spinning. It's stripped. I pulled the plug out and the thread's are fine. So it has to be the radiator. Is there a simple fix for this, or am I screwed. I sure can't afford a new radiator right now.

I tried some teflon tape and that didn't work. I wonder if I could use some type of sealer. I do have some "Right Stuff". That's a sealer from Permatex.

 

Try a new drain plug. They have an o-ring on them that is notorious for leaking. As for the threads.........plastic is hard to see bad threads. Should be able to pick one up at NAPA or Autozone, or whatever your local parts store is. Dealer can get them too, but the ones I use never seem to have them in stock . Good luck!

 

Have you taken it completly out and inspected the O-Ring? You may have a bad O-ring...

 

Not sure but under the head of the part you took out , there should be a rubber washer , thats what makes the seal , so a missing , bad seal , or the sealing surfaces of the part you pulled or rad .
Has there been something done to the truck before you noticed the leak ?
Its uncommon for this to just start leaking .

 

My dad had something similar happen tohis blazer... some lowlife SOB stole the plug and let his antifreeze drain out on the ground. Good thing dad saw it and didn't take off back up the freeway!!!

He had just won the bid on a coin collection at an auction, and suspects the loser really was one...

 

well if you don't think you're ever going to use the drain you could always j-b weld it shut.

 

The last time anything was done was at least 3,000 mile's ago. Heck, I went to Florida and back since then. I do remember I just hand tightened it because it was plastic. When I saw it leaking, I thought it was just loose from not using plier's on it. I wonder if it could have came loose and the vibration messed the thread's up.

None of the part's store's have a listing. It's dealer only. I have to order one. But I really don't think that's going to fix it. But I gotta try anyway.

If all else fail's,,,,I'm gonna goop it upwith some "Right Stuff" and hope for the best. Thank's for all the replies.

 

Here's a pic. Is there supposed to be an o-ring other than the big rubber washer that is there and seem's to be ok. I know it's the thread's not getting tight.

 

Mine was a bear. You have to push in real hard as you screw it back in. Real Hard!

 

If you do a search for "radiator drain plug problem" and read the thread started by me, you will learn more about your drain plug than you ever wanted to know. The Napa part # is 605-1278.

 

So, by what I described, do you think a new plug will fix mine. Or do I have to pull something out of the radiator. Did your new plug look like the picture of mine.

Oh, and thank's for the info.

 

That's exactly the same as what's in my truck, but there is still another piece in the radiator that needs to be removed. When you buy the new one, you'll get both parts. Once you see it, you'll understand. I put a little vaseline on the rubber washer to hopefully preserve it. When you install your new drain plug assembly, your problems will be over.

 

So what you're saying is I won't need a $500 radiator.

I feel better now. I just hope the one from the dealer comes with both part's. If not,,,look's like I'll be off to Napa. Thank's for the help.