leaky radiator

[janiehee]

Hi all. Just wanting some pointers on this radiator. It's got a leak (slow drip) from the blanking plug at the top. It's very annoying as it's not that old, about 5 years I'd guess. You can see the metal around the plug has corroded. Do you think this is something that can be fixed by tightening/replacing the blanking plug? or will it need a new radiator?
thanks!

 

[cross thread]

It’s on a rubber seal so should tighten

 

[terryplumb]

More likely it needs a new O ring seal ,and a few turns of PTFE tape on the thread won't hurt either

 

[janiehee]

Thanks both! useful, I'll give that a go.

 

[Agile]

Pity you have left it so long.

The steel on the rad has rusted and ideally the rad needs to be isolated with its valves and drained to below the blanking plug.

Then use a brush on an electric drill to remove all the rust and then paint with some rust prevention maybe zinc based paint followed by white gloss on top.

I have always found PTFE tape does a very good repair in most cases if the rusting has not pitted the steel too much. Otherwise it needs a good choice of thick jointing paste.

 

[ChrisJP]

While the plug is out for o-ring renewal you should clean off the rust on the radiator and maybe treat it with a rust converter.