My coolant has been slowly dripping onto the street the past week. Today I was finally able to take a look at it and it seems that the metal extension coming out of the radiator, that connects to the rubber tube going to the resevoir, has cracked in half, leaving a small extension lip remaining on the radiator, and the other half in the rubber tube. The tube obviously doesn't sit well on the radiator now, causing this slow leak. Trying to think a good way to fix this...could a new extension tube be welded to the radiator? I would not want the dealer to tell me I need a whole new radiator just because of this tube crack.

 

What kind of radiator do you have? Because the stock radiator has plastic tanks on it.

 

It looks metal to me...was kind of rusted. The one rubber tube from the coolank tank goes to the top section of the radiator, which has an extension tube opening for the rubber tube to slip over and allow coolant into the radiator. From what I saw it looked like metal.

 

You bought the car used? Because the top tank on the stock radiator is black plastic. That nipple sticking out for the line to the overflow tank is plastic.

 

You are right, it is plastic...

 

Time for a new radiator. Try finding one in a wrecking yard.
Dealer will bend you over with no lube.

 

Radiator never leaks? I did NOT know that !

 

crap, I was planning on having it towed tomorrow morning to mazda...this wouldn't be covered under warranty? I have an extended 3 yr bumper to bumper, that i got when i bought the car used a few months ago...

 

i had a constant smell of coolant, then when i brought it in for service i realised there was a coolant leak.
It turns out that rx8's coolant hoses leak really easy and i got them replaced.
After that there was no more leak, maybe this is a cheaper option?

 

It is not the hoses that are leaking, but the nipple that connects the hose to the radiator cracked. What will the dealer charge for a radiator replace if it isnt covered under warranty. They have radiators on eBay for about $150, i don't mind installing it myslef...

 

Anybody know how long it would take the dealer to fix this (replace radiator)? Do they usually have replacement radiators at the dealership?

 

its much easier for you to call the shop tomorrow morning and ask if they have one is stock than it is for us to guess whether they are currently stocking one.

 

If you have a 3yr Bumper to Bumper warranty why wouldn't this be covered?
This is between the bumpers.

 

The Rad is $325 online plus shipping

 

Mine broke at the head of the inlet pipe connecting a small hose to the bottom of the reservoir tank, crumbled like a soaked cardboard. I replaced the stock witha thicker Mishimoto aluminum radiator last December, six months after I bought my 2004 RX-8. It was at least 5 hours of labor when I removed/replaced the part. Also, on the side note, do not year the foams that are adhered around the radiator. Stick them back or replace them with a similar one because that seals the air flow entering the front bumper that helps cool down the coolant fluid in the radiator. And, never use regular tap water to flush the coolant, always use distilled water. Tap water will create calcium build up and can cause corrosion/clogs in the water pump!

 

Yea, mine did the same thing..crumbled like cardboard. I used a brass threaded pipe and screwed it into the top and attached the hose to the other end. Lasted a couple months. Now it started leaking very slowly again, and my dealer found it when they were looking for my stalling problems and such. They want to replace the whole radiator. I am waiting to see if my third party warranty will cover it. The dealer is just hoping that they don't send a rep down and see that I had attempted to fix it.

 

After working on my car for a few hours I cleaned all my spark Plugs. I feel the difference, and I strongly recommended. I just got my 2005 model car 10 weeks ago and so far put 4k miles on it. Now it has 34k miles. I wanted to change the coolant but after opening the radiator drain plug I noticed that it was still good. The bad news is that the engine light finally came on. Yes for some reason I expected the light to pop on before my 3 month bumper to bumper warranty finished. I did noticed a small leak of coolant around the nut above the oil pan. Taking the car to the dealer service tomorrow.

 

I bought my aluminum radiator on ebay for 130 and did it myself it took me 2 hrs to do it.

 

So I replaced my plastic radiator for a aluminum radiator, but for some reason above the radiator where the nipple is connected with the rubber hose where the coolant runs down is leaking, what could be the problem??

 

Is it leaking from the hose, or the metal nipple on the radiator?

The hose clamp may just need to be tightened (I switched most of mine to screw clamps). If it's leaking from the radiator then the manufacturer should be able to fix/replace it.

 

Im gonna try it with a screw on clamp, but for now,im gonna try a different technique witch is taking the radiator cap off, then turn on the car, and let air out from the radiator if that's the problem it should look like bubbles coming out, hopefully that works for me.

 

While that's a good thing to do, it would be almost impossible for it to be the source of a leak.

 

Often the tubing diameter on the non=oem rads differ from stock...so the stock spring type clamp will not be tight enough

Put on a adjustable gear type clamp and you should be good

No cap = no pressure and a cooling system that doesn't work as well as intended

 

[QUOTE=dannobre;4631577]Often the tubing diameter on the non=oem rads differ from stock...so the stock spring type clamp will not be tight enough

Put on a adjustable gear type clamp and you should be good

No cap = no pressure and a cooling system that doesn't work as well as
intended[/QUOTE










So I found the problem it was the hose that connects to the nipple of the radiator it had a small hole above it.

 

That will do it ;-)