Radiator stop-leak
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Radiator stop-leak
Posted: October 07 2007 01:32 PM
 
Jerry Matthews (aka Willys33) [ View ] [ Email ] [ Car Ads ] [ Blogs ]
Alamogordo, New Mexico

 Get off the trailer and drive
 
I hear that GM uses radiator stop-leak on new cars. Not sure if it is fact or not. Some builders use it as standard practice. Question is...do you use it as an additive? Would you use it if you had a SMALL leak? What kind? Nice Sunday discussion.
 
 
Comments
 
Posted by Rods & Customs by Leon  -  10/07/2007 01:54 PM
On a small radiator leak Its fine. But it's not a cure to aged radiators.


Just to add to the topic, there are lots of "Home remidy" type cures that I've heard of over the years, for example Black pepper will work......I tried that one just out of cuiosity one time,


I can't remember some of the others right now but Im sure theres lots more.
Rods & Customs by Leon [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Highlands, Texas Charter Member since May 2004
 
Posted by bigdude  -  10/07/2007 01:56 PM
I use it all the time on small leaks. If it works-I'm happy!
resident know it all [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Three Rivers, Michigan Charter Member since January 2004
 
Posted by Crazyhorse Rod Shop  -  10/07/2007 01:59 PM
i never use it. i figure if it will stop up a leak it can stop up a tube. besides my small leaks always end up big leaks.
dont poke the porchdog........he bites [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] BLUFF DALE, Texas Charter Member since March 2003
 
Posted by koolstuff0099  -  10/07/2007 02:22 PM
I owned an Auto Parts store for 25+ years. I found "bars leaks" to work the best. Just remember, it could stop that leak for a year.....a month or an hour? After all is stopped, people kinda forget about it? Not good. I carry a bottle in my tool box in the trunk.
B-Dog [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Newburyport, Massachusetts
 
Posted by REBORN55  -  10/07/2007 02:37 PM
Used black pepper on a bad head gasket in a Mustang many years ago. Made for interesting exhaust odor. Did finally work though.
FYI--Bars leak is ground up chestnut shells
Ken [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] De soto, Illinois
 
Posted by dixie  -  10/07/2007 02:50 PM
Over the yrs i've used about everything u could put in one some work some don't ,but i coujd not afford to have it repaired back then.If i could have afforded it back then i would have it fixed right. Bars is one of the best. But hands down if you have aleak in the radiator are block any where LIQUID GLASS but you better use it like they tell you areyou will pay the price.Have used it on race engines a bit but they don't stay togeather to long,it will seal a block up very nicely but read the directions.
jim grace [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] dade city, Florida Charter Member since January 2006
 
Posted by jimmothershead  -  10/07/2007 02:56 PM
Most of us are Cruizin" in a $20,000 and up hot rod. A new radiator is about $400....duhh? How much is a roll-back...$250 here in Maryland.

Nuff said, Jim Mothershead
Jim [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Huntingtown, Maryland
 
Posted by koolstuff0099  -  10/07/2007 03:17 PM
Years ago I sent one of my delivery drivers out to one of my work trucks to put some HEAVY DUTY radiator / block sealer in the leaking radiator. About a half hour later the driver comes back from a delivery and says "now the oil light is on?" When I opened the hood to check I notice the spilage of the "block" sealer all over the valve cover??? YUP! you guessed it......he put the stuff in the engine NOT the radiator! ...............Can you make that face when your cheeks are sucked together like a fish? Well, thats what the oil pump did!

PS. dropped pan, flushed everything, fixed radiator.....good for another 40/50 thousand miles! seen it all
B-Dog [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Newburyport, Massachusetts
 
Posted by tlp1968  -  10/08/2007 04:00 PM
I carry stuff like that in the tool box for emergencies but if it is really leaking I have a great radiator guy who fixes me right up.
StreetRodding.com Marketing Director [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Springfield,, Illinois
 
Posted by lildude  -  10/08/2007 04:04 PM
certain beers do that to me, oh, wait a minute, I see that this was about radiator leaks
lildude [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] kalamazoo, Michigan Charter Member since March 2005
 
Posted by orphans2  -  10/08/2007 10:14 PM
Jim wrote : A new radiator is about $400....duhh? How much is a roll-back...$250 here in Maryland.


My advice would be to invest in AAA plus membership. I've had to use several roll-back trips and so far cost for less than a 100 mile ride is: Zero, zip, nada, $0. You get the picture. ;-)
orphans2 [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Stewartstown, Pennsylvannia Charter Member since November 2001
 
Posted by robymarks  -  10/08/2007 10:16 PM
Koolstuff...that guy still alive? Nutmeg is an old farm trick
robymarks [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Houston, Texas Charter Member since October 2005
 
Posted by Willys33  -  10/08/2007 11:29 PM
I'll take one of those $400 radiators!
Get off the trailer and drive [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Alamogordo, New Mexico
 
Posted by Italianguy63  -  10/09/2007 12:06 AM
I've used bars leak with good results too. But, yeah, ultimately it is a sign you need to replace the radiator.
Speed is about how fast do you want to spend! [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Bartow, Florida
 
Posted by Rods & Customs by Leon  -  10/09/2007 03:33 PM
Willys, How many do you want.......I can get real close to 400.00 all day long, Really nice all welded Aluminum too!! can even be Custom made



Rods And Rides by Leon
Rods & Customs by Leon [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Highlands, Texas Charter Member since May 2004
 
Posted by jimmothershead  -  10/09/2007 03:18 PM
Jerry.........is that leak on your neat Willy's Delivery? Where is leak on radiator? If where tube meets the tank, that is the tip of the iceberg. Look for more green residue.

Again, what is the rod worth? So why not spend a measly $400 and cruize without worry?

No problems, no fun with Street Rods, Jim
Jim [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Huntingtown, Maryland
 
Posted by Willys33  -  10/09/2007 09:11 PM
Top tank is of a poor design and I think it is around several of the seams. Wish I could get another for $400.
Get off the trailer and drive [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Alamogordo, New Mexico
 
Posted by robymarks  -  10/09/2007 09:36 PM
Willys..I am not kidding. $400.00. Call Leon!!!!!!!!
robymarks [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Houston, Texas Charter Member since October 2005
 
Posted by gman0046  -  10/09/2007 10:40 PM
Stop leak is great for clogging up heater cores. I'd only use it if it was the only way to get home. Like any other temporary repair, it will bite you in the a-- at the worst possible time.
gman0046 [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Anchorage, Kentucky
 
Posted by carpro1946  -  10/10/2007 01:25 AM
Leon's not kidding. I use the same supplier he does, some of the nicest built radiators you'll ever see. Have used 5 so far this year and am getting ready to order numbers 6 and 7.
carpro1946 [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] hebron, Maryland Charter Member since March 2003
 
Posted by Streetrodder007  -  10/10/2007 01:31 AM
Never put a band-aid on a heart attack ! I have always found majic elixers will back fire eventually.
Streetrodder007 [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Port Huron, Michigan Charter Member since April 2006
 
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