Shop says I need a new radiator...I've seen no leaks though!

I suggest that you ask to be shown the leak, and take some good photos of it. Zoomed in as well as zoomed out to provide perspective.

 

Sounds like a scam to me. The real test is, what is the level in your reservoir? Take the radiator cap off (with the engine cool of course) and see if that is full. If both are full and your not having to replenish either the reservoir or the radiator, there is either no leak or the leak is so slow, its not noticeable.

 

Ok but, what did you observe or, if you didn't observe, start to observe and look for the things I mentioned. If the dealer is being honest and upfront and the symptoms are as they say, there is likely a leak somewhere in that loop.

 

The single most likely cause of an empty radiator is the engine coolant pump. This leaks steadily over time and often only when the engine is running. Checking inside the pump pulley for deposits will quickly show the problem.

John (Britprius)

 

I have just noticed you have a gen3 so this rules rules out my above post.

John (Britprius)

 

Well, your car is an 08 so, what would cause the radiator to go bad that quick??? The ICE systems in a Prius (including the cooling system) really lead a "charmed" life. I'm assuming there are no accidents? I just don't really see a radiator going bad this quickly.

 

Well, tyg.

 

"Sound fishy?!?"

"Reservoir empty, radiator 2/3 empty, according to the shop."

"Well, I can't look at while it's at the shop. This shop has been honest with me in the past, gonna have to bite the bullet and trust them again."

"It has an accident in its past."

It is plausible that a front-end accident might lead to radiator damage. However such a large fluid leak would certainly be noticeable on the garage floor, showing up as a pinkish or whitish stain if it is not actual liquid. We are talking about 2 quarts of fluid here. This is not just going to be deposited on the radiator without leaving a trace on the floor.

If the radiator level was 2/3 empty then the engine cylinder head also would have no coolant in it, and the engine should have overheated when you drove the car. Did you see any warning lights on, especially a high temperature icon (looks like a red thermometer)?

If you are not able to observe the radiator and share that with us, then obviously you'll have to rely on the shop's recommendation. I personally would not authorize that repair without seeing the leak area myself.

 

Or get a second opinion?

Maybe the radiator leak is hairline and thus only leaks under pressure when the coolant is hot? You might be able to see residue if this was the case.

 

on my experience:
Even a small leak on radiator, it will leaves the residue print nearby leaking spot. the radiator has to sustain enough pressure while ICE is running.

I had fix two times for radiator leaking, one for Camry( a small hole due on frontal accident) and other for Tiburon (small hairy crack). residue were nearby the leaking spot with sweet smell (aka coolant smell)...

 

Simply ask the service tech 'where is the coolant going?'. Report back the answer.

 

A radiator doesn't have to be leaking to fail to perform the function for whit it is intended.

Clogged tubes mean that you'll need a radiator.

 

I never heard clogged tubes. do you mean clogged Radiator...?.

if you have clogged tubes, you just replace the tubes aka heat resistant rubber hose.
as I know as long as coolant liquid is used in the engine, Radiator never been clogged.

 

Radiators, like steam boilers and any cooling device with fins have water tubes inside of them.

Hoses are hoses, tubes are tubes. Der Khuler ist kaput! Verstian sie?

 

not hose are the same including tubes


it is not pure water .. coolant liquid...
coolant liquid will leave stains on open air.
I assume from your posting: radiator fins got busted aka clogged.
in this situation, when no or less circulation, Radiator will get much pressure and burst or crack that will leaves coolant stains or sweet smell.

those are based on my knowledges.

 

In the old days, when radiators had fins, tubes, and tanks made of brass and copper, the radiator shop would remove the tanks and rod out the tubes.

When Volkswagen started making radiators out of aluminum with gaskets and plastic tanks crimped to the flanges on the tanks, radiators became less repairable.

Not all the tubes have to b clogged to impede flow and cooling.

No leaks does not always mean that the radiator is functioning.

I'd replace the radiator before the Summer or you might risk damage to the engine, the transmission, the electric motors or the converter.