Drip Drip Drip

Apparently, we were too rough getting the lower hose off the radiator and appear to have disturbed the o-ring on the outlet elbow.

It's a problem dating back to the Pontiac G8 days (2008).  If it's not leaking, and you shift the elbow at all, like when you're struggling to get a radiator hose off, it decides to drip past the o-ring.  It's also known to just start dripping on its own too.

I found out it was dripping because we had a new flood of coolant when Harvey and I had the radiator tilted to drill for the nipple repair.  Hoping against hope, I cleaned up the fluid on the splash cover and left it alone for a few hours.  Sadly, it filled up again...

Considering that Dorman makes the o-ring for GM trucks, it's not uncommon for other LS engined vehicles.

GM does not offer the o-ring separately.

Amazingly, the elbow is still in the system.  $38 plus s/h.  $52 delivered Wednesday.

The o-ring is tantalizingly close to a #125 size.  Also available for Wednesday delivery with 50 for $12.

It's also possible that I've cracked the outlet the elbow clicks onto.  That's new radiator territory.

Denso is the original manufacturer and it's "just" $180 from Amazon.  A bit more from Rock Auto.

Typically, Autozone is fucking high.  $401 for their Duralast branded one, $651 for the Genuine GM; Rock Auto only wants $386 for the GM part number.

If I was going to spend north of $400 for a radiator, it's not gonna have plastic tanks!  Cold case is $440 and is, generally, well regarded.  Mishimoto makes one too, for $600, that's better liked.

The aluminum tanked models have the stupid elbow welded on!

So I've got the elbow on its way and I'm going to put it on and fill the radiator.  If it leaks...  We order a radiator and I have a long chat with Harvey about what kind we get.