help me with my overheating/radiator problems please! (pic inside)

[jiffy08]

Hi guys! Here's what's been happening. I drive my car to work and when I come back there is a good amount of coolant on the floor. I check it out, and my reservoir has coolant between the min and max lines, so I drive it home, and when I parked it, I sat there and saw coolant dripping from under the radiator, but not nearly as much as when I had gone to work. I tried to see where it was coming from, but my fan shroud and other things were blocking my view. Yesterday, I drove my car to downtown LA and when I got near my destination, it appeared that my temp level had gone up, but it never reached the bold line or the H. I stopped my car before it could even get there. I left it alone where I parked and let it cool down before I drove it again and I did my business in LA. I came back 45 min later and decided to take side street instead of the freeway just in case I needed to stop. As I was driving, I noticed that it started to go up again, so I pulled into a little plaza. Luckily, the store in front of my parking spot was a water store! So I bought a gallon of water and started pourin into the radiator. I did not use the whole gallon. I got home safe, and it didn't overheat after that point. I got home and I pulled the fan shroud out and the other things so that I could get a good look at the radiator. Here's a pic of what I noticed.



As you can see, in the part circled in green, the fins are completely separated from the divider wall thing. When the A/C is on or when the rpm's are higher, there is steam coming from this general area. You can also see the coolant residue all around it. I believe this is the source of my leak, but my dad wants me to get a second opinion. Is the green circled area the reason for my leak? If so, I will get a new radiator. If you guys know of any other possibilities for my leak, please tell me. Thank you! As a bonus, here's a pic of my car! Oh yeah, its a 92 ka24de

[Nali]

I think your radiator is leaking?

[Chris28]

Well if there are puddles of coolant wherever you stop that weren't there before, you do indeed have a leak. check the hoses to make sure they aren't leaking too, but your radiator is leaking from there. There should be no steam coming out of the radiator.

You could get a stock one, but I see it as a good time to invest in an aluminum radiator.

[jiffy08]

^I'd definitely invest in an aluminum one, but they're kinda out of my price range at the moment. If I build my engine up a bit, I'll definitely invest in one. My car needs no more than a stock one at the moment. Plus, my dad's good friends with a mechanic so he gets good deals on stock parts like that. Thanks for your input, though!

[ddgsxr504]

You can get a mishimoto radiator for around $225.

I am unsure if you have a KA or SR but the price is the same for both.

[Lev_96_240sx]

+1 for the mishimoto, it's great for the price. If you do get one though and get an electric fan with it, make sure it's spaced away from the radiator. I bought my first one used and the guys that mounted the fan didn't space it, yea, the vibration ate through the radiator core and made the top of my radiator look like your green circled area.

[Fibre guy]

+1 for mishimotoThe mishimoto radiator that I got cools my RB with the littlest bit of air. I could complain about the drain plug though. PITA the drain.

[ddgsxr504]

I could complain about the drain plug though. PITA the drain.

Most guys just reuse plastic drain plug from the stock radiator.

[Fibre guy]

I tried. Totally different thread size....

[Kalypso]

C&R radiator

[OutToWinPAHC]

Who is C&R? I am looking for a new rad to replace the mishimoto one?