[RickD]

Coldest day of the year so far and my radiator is leaking. Definitely the radiator. Added some Prestone Stop Leak and it's slowed down enough I'm not too worried.
I will be replacing the radiator soon, on order.

Your thoughts on flushing the system to remove stop leak and anything else in there on a 191K mikes I5?

Coolant has been changed sooner than the book said since new but never flushed. Last change was Sept last year.

 

[Jesse]

It wouldn't hurt, your already draining most of the fluid anyways.

 

[DBNissan]

I would flush it just to prevent any future issues from the Stop-Leak glogging up something it shouldn't. I replaced my radiator at 205K. It was seeping at the seal between the plastic tank and the core. My truck just turned 222,222 today

 

[Sarge]

Don't forget about the heater core when you're flushing the system.

 

[bk2life]

install new radiator, fill with water, drive to get up to operating temp, pull lower hose drain out, fill with water, drive to get up to operating temp, pull lower hose drain out, fill with water, drive to get up to operating temp, pull lower hose drain out, fill with water, drive to get up to operating temp, pull lower hose drain out do that a few times and you'll be fine. its hard to flush with t-stat in, motor either needs t-stat removed, or dirven to op-temp several times and water dumped like stated previously

 

[Rick_crew]

I figure if you keep any vehicle long enough you're gonna end up replacing the radiator and the heater core, even with twice-as-often-as-required flushes.

I'm becoming fixated on what I'll need to do to ensure another 10 years with this truck.
At 140K now, I plan to get and stockpile a new fuel tank, radiator, and heater core.

 

[gway]

I just swapped my radiator 3 days before Xmas. It erupted where the plastic top met the core. I'd say get a gm radiator. The one I got online only lasted 1.5 years.

 

[RickD]

Thanks for the great feedback I heard what I needed to hear. General feeling I get is get a GM radiator, done. Flush it several times including the heater core, will do. The leak for me is the same as a couple of you mentioned, where the plastic top meets the core. Back in the old days, I might be temped to try soldering. Not anymore with the metal that's used these days.
I've got new hoses, cap, even a new foam strip to all be delivered tomorrow supposedly.
Thanks again for the feedback. Appreciate you guys.