Radiator; should it have water along its base?

[mixtboy]

the radiator in my moggy appears to have water in the shallow channel that runs along the base of it... when you look down it from overhead, there is a lip on the engine side of the radiator and i noticed it had water in it... does this mean the rad is leaking? i checked the fluid level and it was down a cm or so after 2 weeks of driving it, but barely... can one use a product like Holt's Radweld in a moggy radiator? sorry, but it's my first morris and i'm slowling getting to grips with it!

[bmcecosse]

Maybe it was just rain water? Rad weld is for get-you-home only.

[mike.perry]

If you are not losing water don't worry about it, just keep a check on the rad level.

[mogbob]

When the engine is cold ,check that the radiator hose clips top and bottom are done up tight ( the jubilee/ wire type ) and that they are not " weeping " at the joint.Whilst examining make sure the rubber itself is not perished.it should be flexible with some give and not be rock hard.

Bob

[katy]

Radiator; should it have water along its base?

No

[xpress]

agreed, it should be bone dry.

[MarkyB]

Try a product like kitchen towel to mop it up.
Have a sniff and a touch to see that it is water, as any oil that gets there won't evaporate but will make it look wet.

Then see if it reappears.