So after work the other day, I came outside to find about a half gallon of coolant on the ground under my car, so I had it towed home. The whole underside of my engine is COVERED in coolant. I removed my radiator today and took it in to a radiator shop to have it leak tested. Turns out the O-ring for the elbow at the bottom of the car was squished, and that *appears* (hopefully) to be the problem.

However, no one wants to sell me just the o-ring. Hell, no one wants to sell me the elbow WITH the o-ring. Everyone wants to sell me a WHOLE NEW F****** RADIATOR! As much as I'd love to spend $200 for a $1 o-ring...

So I went to the hardware store, and purchased an assortment of o-rings, at least one of which should fit. I was assured they're gas/oil/coolant resistant, however, I am unsure if the temperature will be an issue. Because this is where the coolant comes into the radiator, it's what you may call "very hot".

I'd just throw it together and try it out, but if it doesn't work and goes bad, I very well may lose all of my coolant at the most inopportune time, and lets be honest... removing the whole front end and radiator is no fun (especially when it's about -3*F like it is here right now).

Can anyone help at all? Source for an o-ring? Assurance that the standard hardware store o-rings will work?

If I don't get this tidied up by tomorrow, I'll be riding the motorcycle to work Monday, which isn't much fun at these temperatures, with snow on the ground (believe me, I did it all last year).

Thanks in advance

 

If they're gas/oil/coolant resistant, then the most important factor would be the size.
If it's the right size (diameter and thickness), it should work ok.

 

Bump - has anyone found the correct o-ring dimensions for this issue? It's common on the 2002-2003 MINIs.

 

Not sure if I can help in either case, but is this for an R50 (Cooper) or R53 (Cooper S)?
They have different radiators and some different hoses.

 

R53 - the R50 radiator has a single piece inlet that is part of the right side tank. On the R53 this is a separate part with an o-ring.

 

I looked at a pic and see what you mean, but I have no idea where to find one or the answer.
Hopefully someone else knows or can measure one. I have an R50.

There are a bunch of R53 radiators on ebay for about $60, though.