Do car radiators leak eventually?
I never had any problem with a car radiator after driving 25 years but I may now. I notice even after a 2 mile drive that my car is leaking antifreeze and it seems like it is coming from the radiator area. I can't see any hose around this area. This car is 15 years old with 168,000 miles on it. Is it more than likely the car radiator itself that is leaking and with a car this age is it likely?
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Even with the best of cooling system service radiator cores, end tanks and end tank O rings finally bite the dust. Rust and corrosion eat then up from the inside out. Keep in mind car manufacturers install OEM (original equipment manufacture) radiators from the lowest bidder. Far east radiators are the norm these days.
Cooling system leaks are usually very easy to find if you have access to a floor jack, jack stands or a pair of plastic ramps from Walmart. Hot or cold antifreeze mixed with water evaporates very slowly. A wet trail always follows a leak downward from the souce.
As any car gets older it becomes more likely that something will break. Don't rule out hose leaks until you can pinpoint where the leak is. It could be leaking from the top hose and trail down to the middle of the radiator. Best bet would be to take it in to a shop and have it looked at. You can also try putting some stop leak in it. If the leak is small that stuff might work.
Before you go changing the radiator, find the leak. Look at the radiator cap. When the engine is cold, take the cap off, fill it up to the top, put the cap back on and drive for 10 miles.
Get home, open the hood and look for and listen for the hiss of the leak.
It could be just a new radiator cap needed because that spring, the ONLY moving part in the radiator, gets weak after 25 years.
The water pump if leaking will appear to be leaking in same area and is more likely than the radiator. You can have a simple pressure test put on the radiator so you can find the source.
If it is leaking somewhere other than the connections, it's time for a funeral service for the radiator. 25 years is a long life for a radiator. I thought I was the only person who drives a car that long. Congratulations.
Yes it is likely, especially if they use salt on the roads in the winter. Salt corrodes aluminium.
Consider changing the coolant, and flushing the coolant system. at this time. A lot of crud can build up in the water jacket of the engine and lead to problems down the road. Use distilled water with the coolant. New coolant will have active rust inhibitors and waterpump lubricants. If it has never been done consider changing the waterpump at this time also. You can check with the dealership service department if waterpump failure is common with your vehicle and at what mileage it should be changed. I am not suggesting you buy it there, just getting the information on your vehicle.
Yes, it is likely the radiator.
Even a good rock hit can make the rad leak or it could just be old age.
Either way no big deal.
Simple to replace.