da8banger
New Member
- Joined
- Apr 29, 2024
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Hey everybody,
I'm new to the forum. I've been having issues with my new-to-me 95 Mustang GT (5 speed, in Black). I am the 2nd owner, and so far its at 125k miles. Since getting the car last December, it's been running rock solid. Everything is stock in this car except for some common repairs (idle air control and clutch were replaced by the owner). I have been putting as much TLC into the car as much as I can (etc tune ups, new suspension, new short throw shifter, detailing, etc). The car has been running amazing for the most part.![Smile :) :)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
However... I have been pretty much battling my radiator since I got this car. Does anyone have any advice?
starting in January I have noticed the OEM radiator dripping small amounts of coolant in the morning. I found that it was leaking coolant when the engine is under load at the plastic end tank seams. I swapped it out for a SVE 3 row aluminum radiator from LMR in February. I only swapped the rad. Did not swap the hoses, nor the reservoir tank. After 1 month, the radiator popped while I was driving home from work near the upper rad hose. I thought it was the hoses, so I replaced both the upper and lower. I tried pressure testing it after and found that the leak was actually coming from right next to the upper rad hose, on the end tank seams!! I was still under warranty I got a replacement SVE rad from LMR, and swapped that one in. It's been about a month now, and seemed to be working fine but now on this 2nd SVE radiator the rubber drain plug somehow got loose while I was driving and coolant started leaking over the freeway like water!
I plan to make some kind of metal stopper to replace this cheap rubber drain plug, but I can't believe it would just come out while driving. The roads here can get a little bit bumpy, but that shouldn't be enough to pop the plug out right? I am thinking there might be some bigger issue with the pressure somehow... maybe the pressure gets too high, and it tries to find the weakest link (in this case it was the drain plug, and not the end tank seams, so the pressure pushes the rubber stopper outwards). I'm not a mechanic, but this is the third radiator in this car which seems highly unusual. Maybe the SVE quality is just really bad? I can't believe the OEM Ford one has pretty much lasted for ~30 years but these new radiators can't even last 1 month. This is the radiator I had bought. https://lmr.com/item/SVE-8005B/1994-95-Mustang-Aluminum-Radiator-for-Manual-Transmission
FYI, I am not having any other leaks or issues. Head gasket is fine, and my coolant temp sensor is working properly. The OEM coolant reservoir tank is not leaking either.
Other questions:
1. Is there any thing I need to replace besides the radiator and upper/lower rad hoses to future-proof my car from future leaking radiators?
2. Would a lower PSI cap help? I believe the SVE cap is 16 PSI or whatever is the same as the stock rad cap PSI.
3. Can high pressure due to too much coolant cause radiators to pop? I am thinking its better to run a little bit less coolant than usual as long as the engine is not overheating to avoid pressure issues.
4. Any radiator suggestions for reliability in case I have to replace this SVE one?
I'm new to the forum. I've been having issues with my new-to-me 95 Mustang GT (5 speed, in Black). I am the 2nd owner, and so far its at 125k miles. Since getting the car last December, it's been running rock solid. Everything is stock in this car except for some common repairs (idle air control and clutch were replaced by the owner). I have been putting as much TLC into the car as much as I can (etc tune ups, new suspension, new short throw shifter, detailing, etc). The car has been running amazing for the most part.
However... I have been pretty much battling my radiator since I got this car. Does anyone have any advice?
starting in January I have noticed the OEM radiator dripping small amounts of coolant in the morning. I found that it was leaking coolant when the engine is under load at the plastic end tank seams. I swapped it out for a SVE 3 row aluminum radiator from LMR in February. I only swapped the rad. Did not swap the hoses, nor the reservoir tank. After 1 month, the radiator popped while I was driving home from work near the upper rad hose. I thought it was the hoses, so I replaced both the upper and lower. I tried pressure testing it after and found that the leak was actually coming from right next to the upper rad hose, on the end tank seams!! I was still under warranty I got a replacement SVE rad from LMR, and swapped that one in. It's been about a month now, and seemed to be working fine but now on this 2nd SVE radiator the rubber drain plug somehow got loose while I was driving and coolant started leaking over the freeway like water!
I plan to make some kind of metal stopper to replace this cheap rubber drain plug, but I can't believe it would just come out while driving. The roads here can get a little bit bumpy, but that shouldn't be enough to pop the plug out right? I am thinking there might be some bigger issue with the pressure somehow... maybe the pressure gets too high, and it tries to find the weakest link (in this case it was the drain plug, and not the end tank seams, so the pressure pushes the rubber stopper outwards). I'm not a mechanic, but this is the third radiator in this car which seems highly unusual. Maybe the SVE quality is just really bad? I can't believe the OEM Ford one has pretty much lasted for ~30 years but these new radiators can't even last 1 month. This is the radiator I had bought. https://lmr.com/item/SVE-8005B/1994-95-Mustang-Aluminum-Radiator-for-Manual-Transmission
FYI, I am not having any other leaks or issues. Head gasket is fine, and my coolant temp sensor is working properly. The OEM coolant reservoir tank is not leaking either.
Other questions:
1. Is there any thing I need to replace besides the radiator and upper/lower rad hoses to future-proof my car from future leaking radiators?
2. Would a lower PSI cap help? I believe the SVE cap is 16 PSI or whatever is the same as the stock rad cap PSI.
3. Can high pressure due to too much coolant cause radiators to pop? I am thinking its better to run a little bit less coolant than usual as long as the engine is not overheating to avoid pressure issues.
4. Any radiator suggestions for reliability in case I have to replace this SVE one?