Radiator leaking air vent/rusted
- Thread starter Fallout
- Start date
Those columns are usually pretty heavy gauge steel so I'd see if it could be saved - Drain, then remove the blank and wire brush on a drill, clean it all up, remove all blistered paint and see what the tapping threads are like. If they're ok then grease the threads and then some rust converter, then a few coats of etch primer and then white enamel/hammerite.
May return after a few years though, depends on the prep.
If the budget's available then can always replace.
May return after a few years though, depends on the prep.
If the budget's available then can always replace.
Last edited:
With the rust spreading around the vent boss like that, I'd lean toward replacement. A new bleed plug often won't seal once the threads are that corroded, and disturbing it can crack the weakened metal or snap the plug off.
Before deciding, do a quick integrity check: drain the rad down and gently probe the area around the bleed hole with a screwdriver. If the steel feels solid under the surface rust, a new plug plus thread sealant may buy you a few more years (as Madrab says, it depends on the prep and the corrosion may return). If the metal feels thin or crumbles, replace the rad.
Before deciding, do a quick integrity check: drain the rad down and gently probe the area around the bleed hole with a screwdriver. If the steel feels solid under the surface rust, a new plug plus thread sealant may buy you a few more years (as Madrab says, it depends on the prep and the corrosion may return). If the metal feels thin or crumbles, replace the rad.
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