Question: Radiator Stop Leak??

[Donne Trav]

Has anyone ever used a radiator stop leak? Does it work? Recently I
noticed a small stream of steam and tiny spray of coolant coming from the passenger side of my '94's radiator. It appeared to come from one of the thin, "black rib like structures that rap around the end of the radiator. Thinking of trying a "heavy duty" stop leak. Your thoughts and advice would be appreciated. Thankyou.

 

[boomdriver]

Has anyone ever used a radiator stop leak? Does it work? Recently I
noticed a small stream of steam and tiny spray of coolant coming from the passenger side of my '94's radiator. It appeared to come from one of the thin, "black rib like structures that rap around the end of the radiator. Thinking of trying a "heavy duty" stop leak. Your thoughts and advice would be appreciated. Thankyou.

That crap should be ILLEGAL.

it does more harm than helps.

 

[Schrade]

If you don't fix it yourself, get it done at a shop now, while there's no rush at the radiator shop.

 

[Hib Halverson]

"Stop leak" products work by covering the inside of the radiator with a layer of substance that flows into pinhole leaks then hardens. It also coats the entire inside of the cooling jackets with a thin layer of this stuff.

Problem is, the layer of stop leak also is an insulator which impeads transfer of heat from the hot engine parts to the coolant and from the coolant to the radiator tube and fins.

So, yes...stop leak products can stop small leaks but you also may loose cooling performance.

 

[boomdriver]

"Stop leak" products work by covering the inside of the radiator with a layer of substance that flows into pinhole leaks then hardens. It also coats the entire inside of the cooling jackets with a thin layer of this stuff.

Problem is, the layer of stop leak also is an insulator which impeads transfer of heat from the hot engine parts to the coolant and from the coolant to the radiator tube and fins.

So, yes...stop leak products can stop small leaks but you also may loose cooling performance.

You can also loose an entire water passage in a block or head. The slowest moving port will solidify depending on the type of stop-leak used. I've seen this myself and will walk before using this garbage and risk the entire motor. Some types use a build-up of semi solid material to seal a low pressure leak but they don;t stop sealing when the external leak stops...they slowly close off radiator veins and ruin heater cores by blocking the small passages.

 

[compyelc4]

I agree. I swore by stopleak products until I recently replaced the upper intake manifold gasket on my wife's '99 Grand Am GT. On the topside of one of the heads the stopleak had 100% plugged up a 1/2" diameter coolant passage. Never again!

 

[TedC]

The manufactures of cars that I own or owned all used some type of leak additive right from the factory. That includes Mopars, GMs, Fords and Hondas. Appears to be a ginger (yes the spice) based composition. It leaves a residue ring in the coolant reservoir and radiator cap neck. Not sure I would want to use this to solve a radiator leak if it was my vette.

 

[G Winter]

I have used the stop leak that GM sells in older cars as a bandage to get a few more miles out of them. They are a thick wafer shape just small enough to drop in the radiator. I have never noticed any problems with heater cores or any of the cooling system.
I wouldn't use a stop leak in anything I planned on driving for a very long time.
Old school mechanics used red pepper as a stop leak, quite effective.
Glenn