If your radiator is damaged, or there is a noticeable leak, you will have two options – either replace it with a new one or try and repair what you have. Obviously, replacing with a new one is the better choice, however with the recent technologies repair procedure can save you up to 50% versus new purchase. Also keep in mind that getting a new radiator for a certain auto model may take up to a month, while repairing might only take a day.

There are a few options to fix a leak in your radiator, some are better than the others. First of all, there is an option of pouring special additives inside your radiator, which should stop the leak from the inside by sealing the cracks. However, this can lead to the additive also clogging the rest of the radiator and cooling system of your engine, which may lead to much bigger damage and more expenses.

But the better diy option is to identify the place of leak visually from the outside, and try and fix it from the outside by welding the cracked pipe. However, most often this is still only a temporary solution, and the pipe will need to be replaced at the mechanic shop sooner or later, preferrably sooner.