# Do I need a new radiator? Really?

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-i-need-a-new-radiator-really/53711>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** chevrolet, malibu, coolant\
**Created:** [August 17, 2010, 9:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-i-need-a-new-radiator-really/53711 "2010-08-17T21:02:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![sonrisa42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@sonrisa42](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sonrisa42)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2010, 9:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-i-need-a-new-radiator-really/53711/1 "2010-08-17T21:02:50Z")

</div>

On the first hot and humid day of the summer, my 96 malibu started to leak its antifreeze. It was completely empty in a matter of hours. I filled it up and it has been fine ever since. When I brought my car in for its last oil change I asked the mechanics to check out my coolant system. They told me that my car had overheated and I needed to replace my radiator, tubes and thermometer. The car is working just fine and has not leaked since. I called a different dealer and he suggested a coolant system pressure check. Do I really need all this if the car is running just fine? Or will it stop working when it starts to snow…???

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2010, 9:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-i-need-a-new-radiator-really/53711/2 "2010-08-17T21:07:30Z")

</div>

Get the pressure check. And if it passes, have the shop attempt to determone why it purged itself of coolant. A cooling system does not drain in a few hours without a cause. Something is wrong and it needs to be fixed, or you’ll inevitably end up buying a replacement engine.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![geeaea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@geeaea](https://community.cartalk.com/u/geeaea)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2010, 9:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-i-need-a-new-radiator-really/53711/3 "2010-08-17T21:08:35Z")

</div>

tubes and thermometer

Wonder what these are? Maybe you heard “thermostat”, but I dunno what the tubes thing is.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2010, 9:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-i-need-a-new-radiator-really/53711/4 "2010-08-17T21:22:20Z")

</div>

My guess is hoses and thermostat. No point changing the radiator on a '96 without putting new hoses and T-stat on.