Ever been broke down
on the side of the highway, radiator hose spitting and steaming? Yeah, it isn’t much fun. While it won’t work for too long, this emergency
roadside auto repair for your radiator hose will get you back home
or to an auto repair shop. Remember,
this is a temporary emergency radiator hose fix and is by no means considered an
actual auto repair.
Never perform cooling system work or radiator repairs on
a hot vehicle! This could cause serious burns resulting in
hospitalization.
When the vehicle has cooled enough for a closer look at the
problem, you need to find the exact location of your leak. If it is the radiator hose, this emergency
auto repair can hold long enough to get you to a safe destination.
You need to locate the hole in the radiator hose and dry it off very well.
Next, grab a roll of duct tape! Yes, duct tape. If you don’t have any,
it is found almost anywhere. At worst, try finding a passing driver that
may have some duct tape you could use.
With the radiator hose hole area completely dried off,
get a strip of duct tape approximately 3 inches long. Place this piece right
over the hole in the radiator hose. Press firmly to seal the hole. Now
smooth the tape on each side, starting from the center and smoothing it outward.
This will become a radiator hose patch. Now use a much longer
piece of the duct tape to secure the patch. Secure the patch by beginning
around two inches above the duct tape patch. Wrap the longer duct tape strip
tightly around your radiator hose. Continue wrapping from two inches
above the tape patch to about 2 inches below. Wrap tightly and smooth it as
you go.
With the radiator hose patched and tightly wrapped, check
the radiator fluid levels. Determine if there is enough coolant to
get you to your destination. If not and you can’t get to the usual
cooling system blend you use, add enough clean, clear water to bring the level
up.
As I have already said,
this is merely a temporary, roadside emergency radiator repair.
A proper auto repair is still necessary, but this should emergency fix should get
you home or to the auto repair shop or your mechanic. While duct tape is
great for many things, it will not be strong enough to contain the leak for
long.
In the greater Columbia, SC area your best choice for all
auto repairs is our auto repair shop, Sanford’s
Automotive Service. Our ASE
Certified Master mechanic will take care of you and have you back on the road
fast. Sanford’s Automotive Service is proud to serve the drivers of the
Columbia, SC area now and since 1989. Just take Exit 71 off I-20 to our auto
repair shop at 7917 Wilson Blvd. or call us at 803-735-7902 to schedule an
appointment.