Replaced Rad + Hoses, Leaks :(

[BartusCompater]

So a couple of months ago I replaced my radiator, cooling fan, thermostat and radiator hoses (all of them). Unfortunately right after I drained the whole system, pulled it all apart, drilled a hole in the new stat, put all the new parts in and filled her back up I found that I had a leak at the hose which goes from my thermostat to the bottom of the radiator (specifically where it hooks up to the bottom of the thermostat). It was a pretty consistent drip but I figured that I could just top off my coolant every once in a while for a little bit until I felt like pulling it all apart again and readjusting the leaking hose (it's a pain in the butt getting those things on and off).

Well today the car started overheating (almost went into the red before I noticed). The bottom of the radiator was cool though and so was the hose from the thermostat to the lower radiator (which is odd because that's where the coolant is leaking from). This suggests to me that the stat isn't allowing coolant through, though the same hose is leaking and my stat has a hole in it. (Maybe I need to check and make sure that this is definitely where it's leaking from).

I also checked the coolant under the radiator cap and there didn't seem to be any in there. I topped the radiator back off and got back on the road and the temperature seemed to stay pretty consistent after that. So I believe that I just ran out of coolant in there which caused it to start overheating.

My question is: Now that I've had this hose leaking from the bottom of the thermostat (which I've also probably tightened down a little too much), is the hose going to be damaged in any way, or would it seem acceptable to just try to shimmy the hose around a little and put a new clamp on? The hose seemed to go onto the stat all the way (I wasn't expecting it to start leaking at first), but apparently something is wrong that's causing it to leak.

Also, would having a consistent leak and a low enough amount of coolant lead to a a failure of coolant to get to the bottom of the radiator despite having a warm top of the radiator and upper hoses?

It's just so difficult taking those hoses on and off and re-adjusting them since it's such a tight fit.

[124JOE]

are you sure the stat is in corectly?

they make a tar sealant for rims and tires
that shoud seal your leak

[rlux4]

It would be a coincedence, but I just had the same problem and after replacing the lower hose and still having a drip I drained the system again and removed the stat. I found it was leaking at the crimp. I put a layer of JB weld around the lip over the crimp and stopped the leak. I use an old coolant gallon container that I've cut the bottom and 1/2 of one side from to catch the coolant and direct it into a container when I'm draining my system. The coolant was all new because I've had to drain it three times to find and fix the leak, so I didn't want to waste any.
Ron

[BartusCompater]

Yeah I'm sure it's in correctly, it was working fine for a number of months until recently when I started to neglect the coolant levels.

Ron, that's a great idea. I'll throw some JB weld around it and dare it to leak after that. Thanks for the advice.

Also, MERRY CHRISTMAS!