Radiator leak, not sure the cause.

For the last couple of months I have had a slow leak in my radiator. Not a big deal since I barely need to drive my car. Well over the last few days it has gotten a lot worse.

I thought the leak was from some mud I had driven through that had pushed itself up against the bottom of my radiator. But I have been looking without taking the car apart, and this does not seem to be the case. It seems to be coming from behind the fan shroud.

My question is, has anyone else had the fan shroud damage their radiator? and what are some ideas to prevent this from happening again?

These things are a bit expensive, and I'd rather not be replacing one every couple of years. :banghead:

If the fan shroud damaged it, then I'd inspect the mounting hardware (clips, bolts, etc.) to be sure it's not shifting around in there. That really sounds kinda odd to me. I wonder if the damage could have happened while re-installing the fan.

Did they get rid of the plastic thermostat housing in the 2008? If yours still does have the plastic one, then the leak could be coming from that, spraying forward and making it look like it's from another source. Probably not the reason for your leak, but thought I should mention it, just in case.

Thermo is aluminum. Definitely radiator leak, it's wet even behind the fan.

Also changing the radiator on saturday.

I appreciate the updates Daug, let us know what you find.

I will do that.

OK as promised the update on the cause. The leak came from multiple things. Back in august I was in an accident that twisted the front end a little bit. I had the car professionally repaired, but apparently the radiator got twisted a little bit somewhere in the entire process. This caused it to rub against the cooling fan and started a small leak. Carry on to a few months later when I decided to take my car through a little mud into some timber. The mud pit wasn't deep and only the length of a barn, but apparently deep enough for my bottom radiator support to scoop plenty of it up and finish off the radiator. Lesson learned, the Aveo is not a rally racer. Removal and re-installation of the radiator is very easy, just takes a little attention to detail. I will post an update on a few notes I made in the how-to that is on this forum shortly.

Thanks for the update Daug. Kinda sounds like you need a WRX, LOL!

Maybe skid plates!?!

:toothy7: I want one so bad! :toothy7:

ME TOO!:laughing1:

I had a similar situation with my 07' Aveo. I was driving back to Kentucky from Michigan when the radiator started spewing all over the place. I pulled off at the nearest gas station and found the leak. As a temp. fix i put stop leak in it and got home. About a year later, it started back up again stronger than ever. I decided it was time to replace the radiator. When I pulled the fan shroud off i noticed that it was not seated properly in the brackets on the bottom of the shroud. As a result the shroud was pushed up against the radiator and the fan nicked the radiator and caused the leak. I put the new radiator in, make sure the shroud was sitting properly on the drop in mounts and I have not had a problem since.

Good luck with it.

Kris

In my case the shroud was what had pierced the radiator. I know the replacement is spaced properly and well seated.