A (longggg) while back, when I first got the car, the stealership recommended I replace the radiator b/c there was a "small leak". They suggested that it wasn't severe, and I haven't really noticed anything with coolant lossed until recently. Anyway, in the middle of my tbelt job, I looked at the radiator to find all this dried up coolant on the inside of its combs.

This is MOST LIKELY a foolish question (-although I never really opened up a car before so I don't know what to expect, or if this is normal-) ...are these the likely traces of a leak?? and should I replace this radiator while I'm working in the area?

 

Nobody has a clue on this??

 

answer is yes to all your questions except that last one.

 

The answer to your last question is YESalso but replace it with a new one. Thats a classic example of what years of Bad antifreeze can do to a radiator. Its beyond saving so do yourself a favor and get a new one.

Good Luck...

 

I second a new one

 

Best price is at germanpartsonline.com for the new radiator. I replaced mine when I did my timing belt and waterpump too.

 

Yeah, I'm definetly going with a new one. I think its cheaper at ecs tho...~$17*.** vs. $191 on germanparts.

Why is it bad antifreeze?? I've been using the pink one from audi from the beginning (G12 or G2 I think). Don't know what the original owner used tho. Also, I used to just put in 100% pure concentrated coolant so maybe that has something to do with it.

 

Wonder how that happened. Most of the time they don't just start to leak like that unless something pinned it.

(Or that i know of)

 

If you look at the bottom its rotted out the whole way from end to end. I've seen that many times on american cars using the Advanced Auto or other cheap coolants. I have a 96 and I looked at the bottom of mine and its clean and no signs of any rot. And you just said it. Don't know what the original owner used. A 50/50 mix with demineralized water is your best bet always.

Good Luck...