Hi I've got a VW Golf 1.9 TDi (99) and it's currently leaking coolant, I've taken it to a garage and it's coming from the radiator. They've patched it with rad weld but have said that I need a new rad. Should I leave it patched or get a new rad, I'm inclined to just fix it and get on with it rather than messing about patching it up. Any thoughts?
I think you've answered your own question. Some people say that radweld can clog up other parts of your car's cooling but I'm not sure about that. New rads are about =A350+vat
Rad weld is far from a permanant solution.
The last thing you want is for it to give way miles from anywhere, dump the coolant and lunch the engine because you couldnt see / didnt notice the pegged temp gauge.
Tim..
I had a very small leak from my radiator and put some rad weld in,two years on and the car is still going strong. If the radiator is leaking a lot you probably will need a new one.
I've messed around in the past patching rads. If you're going to keep the motor you need reliability. Unless you can repair it properly (solder), then get a new one! I also tried radweld in a Rover 214, jammed the thermostat partially open....cost me time in flushing through (when I put a new rad in)
If it's a small leak you can get away in this country for pretty much all of the year by leaving the radiator cap on it's half-open detent anyway - the pressure can't build up so much, so it doesn't leak as much or even at all in some cases!
Doesn't cool as well, either, but still 'well enough' for typical UK weather, IME.
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