Radiator drain plug leaks
Radiator drain plug leaks I have searched but can't seem to find the answer to my problem. 2002 Trans Am WS6 with 28,000 miles on it, I finally performed a coolant flush on the system and removed the PS cooler and added an aftermarket cooler for the PS. I installed new hoses both lower and upper (upper changed for a non PS hose) After the flush and refill it was leaking from the radiator drain plug after several attempts to tighten I replaced the drain plug with a new. It is still leaking from the drain plug. The odd part if the car sits and idles in the driveway up to temp no leak but if I drive it right down the road and back it leaks. Any ideas would be appreciated this is driving me crazy. The car never leaked before this, but I needed to replace the factory coolant that was still in the car.
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,643
Likes: 2,571
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
If not an O-ring issue as mentioned above, have you inspected for cracks in the area (and bore) of the drain plug? If it hadn't been removed for 14 years perhaps it was pretty well seized. Did you have a lot of trouble breaking it free? And/or, is there any chance you may have over tightened it after draining?
The o-ring was still on the plug, the plug was hard to remove the second time to replace it. I had to use pliers almost the entire way. I don't see any cracks on the outside and when it leaks it drips from the drain hole only. I lose about 1-2 cups of coolant driving it. I'm thinking I am just going to have to replace the radiator but unsure if I should get an OEM replacement or spend the money on a BeCool aftermarket all aluminum.
Update: So I drove the car today to eat lunch it was about a 25 min drive. I drove the car normally with the Traction Control left on and so far I have no leaks. The other times I have driven the car with the Traction control turned off and drove the car a little hard for 5 mins and had a leak once I got back home. Seems very weird I will keep an eye on it and update this thread as I get more info.
Traction Control on or off has nothing to with a petcock drain leaking.
You probably crossed a thread, thats why it was so hard to remove the second time. I would put some thread sealer tape on the plug threads first to try to seal it. If it doesn't work, you'll have to JB weld it or epoxy the plug in place to stop the leak.
You can still do a complete flush later if needed without using that drain hole.
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You probably crossed a thread, thats why it was so hard to remove the second time. I would put some thread sealer tape on the plug threads first to try to seal it. If it doesn't work, you'll have to JB weld it or epoxy the plug in place to stop the leak.
You can still do a complete flush later if needed without using that drain hole.
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I agree the Traction Control has nothing to do with it was only stating what I was seeing as that sometimes help having all the information.
We finally had a chance to raise her up and check the entire system again top to bottom what we found was one hose clamp on the lower house that was off just the smallest amount and had been leaking on the bottom of the hose and dripping down to the petcock and then falling on the ground. We readjusted the hose clamp and so far no leaks. I will watch it for the next couple weeks as we only drive her on the weekends. If it still leaks I will start over again.
We finally had a chance to raise her up and check the entire system again top to bottom what we found was one hose clamp on the lower house that was off just the smallest amount and had been leaking on the bottom of the hose and dripping down to the petcock and then falling on the ground. We readjusted the hose clamp and so far no leaks. I will watch it for the next couple weeks as we only drive her on the weekends. If it still leaks I will start over again.
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