Rep Power: 0

Hey Guys,

I was rolling along yesterday, heading to my friend's place, and i noticed this awful (prestone?) smell coming from my 96 civic. When i stopped at a light, a bit of smoke was coming from the right side, in front.

After thinking a bit, i remembered that i had dropped a bit of oil on the motor when i filled it up the last time i used it. So i said to myself, it's just the oil burning off. So i went on to my friend's.
When coming back, the smell and the smoke had stopped ! So my suspicions seemed confirmed.

BUT...
My dad took the car today and the same thing happened to him: smoke and smell.

Now i'm glum cuz i have to possibly fix a cracked radiator, right ?
Any ideas ? Should i just dump the poor thing ?

Thanks

 
Rep Power: 812

any fluid leaking on the ground or on the exhaust pipe?

 
Rep Power: 228

A common site for a radiator leak is from the top seam. If that's what you see, then replace the radiator, which costs about $100 and is a relatively easy job to do yourself.

 
Rep Power: 0

This is the same thing I had happen to me. The radiators from the factory are junk and mine broke the seam right at the top where the aluminum is pinch "welded" to the plastic. I initially tried to JB Weld it up to no avail. Just replace your radiator, and while your at it do the thermostat, lower and upper hoses. I replaced it all in about an hour and it cost me about $100 shipped from RockAuto.com.

Removal and installation is REALLY easy.
1. Drain Radiator using the drain plug
2. Pull off Hoses
3. Remove the 1 Bolt on raditor hold support
4. Pull out overflow bottle and disconnect hose
5. Disconnect Fan Plug
6. Pull out radiator
7. Transfer fan to new radiator
8. Take off 3 bolts on thermostat housing

That's about all that was required that I can remember. Installation is the reverse. Very quick and simple replacement and worth it IMHO.

 
Rep Power: 812

did you get a different brand radiator, or was it another stock part?