Radiator problem

[Zain]

okey so i have a 97 corolla dx 1.8 with 176k miles
now about a month ago i checked my radiator and it was like empty, the reservoir had some coolant left. i immediately filled the radiator and reservoir with coolant.
since this has never happened before i was not use to checking the coolant level in my car also the temperature scale never went above the mid,

anyways today after about a month i checked it again and again the same radiator was very low on coolant and also the reservoir

also there were some white patches kind of on the radiator
now i dnt know if the radiator is leaking or not
i will check it tomorrow

but what could be the reason for this?
has the radiator gone bad?
should i change my coolant?

thanks for the help in advance

[godanigo]

It's possible that your radiator cap has gone bad, and is letting steam/water leak out. Take off the cap (while the car is not hot!) and check the seal and the springy bit, and if it looks worn, get a new one. They are under $10 at NAPA, and an easy fix.

[speedy25]

There are a LOT of places for an older car like ours to leak from. Start looking. Put some paper/cardboard under the car to see where it might come from. Using UV dye can also pinpoint difficult to spot leaks.

-SP

[Zain]

okey so i found out the crack
there is about 2 inch long crack near the radiator cap
looks like ill have to replace my radiator

any input on where to find and which one to install?

and is it easy to install or should i have a professional to do this for me/?

[speedy25]

Rad replacement is one of the easiest jobs you can do. Check your hoses and replace them if they are hard or "expanded" by the clamps. Worst part is you always have at least a small puddle of coolant doing the job.

Important: When I got my new rad, the stock cap wouldnt fit the new rad. the salesman was careless and didnt see the special note when it was sold. Take your old cap with you just in case, if you arent buying a new one anyway.

-SP