Crack in Cooling Pipe tube??

[Bugeyefanatic]

I have just discovered today, due to smoke from the radiator area, a small crack (about 2 inches long) in what I believe is the tube that leads to the radiator.

I have it jammed with an undershirt right now to stop the leak, but when the engine starts to warm up it begins to spit out green liquid.

Am I right that that is coolant? Would it be ok to JB Weld it or something similar, or would it be something that needs to be replaced.

I wish I had a picture right now to show but I dont.

Any thoughts on the green fluid leaking out and possible fixes please let me know.

Thanks

[oguitar]

If it is just a tube this will be an easy fix. If it is on the radiator then you have just experienced the infamous radiator crack.

[Bugeyefanatic]

Well the part that is cracked is plastic so Im pretty sure its not the radiator itself.

[teflon_jones]

The top of the radiator is plastic. Is it a tube or is it on the radiator itself?

If it's a tube, you need to replace the tube. You don't try and repair split tubes.

[Bugeyefanatic]

No turns out its the plastic top piece of the radiator...the crack is about an inch and a half to two inches long. So you think it could be repaired with JB Weld or some crack sealer?

[oguitar]

No sir you need a new radiator. Don't drive your car hard or you will mess up your head gaskets. Search for cracked radiator it is a common problem on high mileage cars.

[Bugeyefanatic]

Yeah ive been lookin up solutions and found a couple different ways of doing it with JB Weld, I figure it would be inexpensive to try it and people say it works but sometimes is only a temporary fix.

Hopefully I dont have to get a new radiator and that this works, but ill be keeping a close eye on my fix so i dont screw anything else up.

[teflon_jones]

Don't bother with trying to fix it. You need a new radiator. Period.

[EvoEatr]

as mentioned you will most likely in time need a new radiator, however I have personally fixed many radiators with JB and they have held until the person had time to get money to replace it...Its a huge gamble considering its your cooling system, however If you short on cash for now it might be worth a shot, but def. put it on the priority list...