Best fix for leaky radiator

T

tony lucckino

Senior Member
Have a couple of small leaks in my 51 Merc radiator core. Question ; is the best fix while the radiator is in the car still SILVER SOLDER brand , pour it in and in a while it will seal the leak or leaks? Please give me some of your recent experiences. Thanks fordbarners....tony in prescott,az
 
Black pepper worked for me. Took the wife's pepper grinder out to the rad, ground about table spool poured into the rad. stopped leaks. I have drained and flushed the system and still no leaks. Worked! Worth a try.
 
take it to a radiator shop and have it rodded and resoldered.... or see you on the side of the road.
 
I had a radiator leak last Saturday while driving to visit my son in college.I stopped at the local Auto zone and picked up a bottle of Barrs stop leak. It worked! Funny but true,when I was leaving Auto Zone I ran into my friend Vernon Walker junior( from Walker Radiator Works) He happened to be there to pick up part for his daughters car. She attends ASU as well.
 
Additives never seemed to work for me.
I've had a few radiators "recored" for around $300.00.
You might find a new radiator on e-bay for less.
 
I have had a few leaky old Ford radiators and the best fix is get it repaired.
The other methods are usually 'stop gap' measures and the problem comes back to bite when least expected.
 
Stop leak chemicals work O.K. for temporary fix, but getting it repaired by a radiator shop is the only sure way to do it right. You'll understand that concept when you are on the back of the tow truck( and your wife was along for the ride).
 
allford said:
Black pepper worked for me. Took the wife's pepper grinder out to the rad, ground about table spool poured into the rad. stopped leaks. I have drained and flushed the system and still no leaks. Worked! Worth a try.
Click to expand...

What is a table spool? Inquiring minds want to know. LOL
 
The old timers use to put a horse bun in the rad, the hey in the bun would stop the leak. The only problem is, it's hard to find a horse bun on a garage floor now days. Walt
 
allford said:
Black pepper worked for me. Took the wife's pepper grinder out to the rad, ground about table spool poured into the rad. stopped leaks. I have drained and flushed the system and still no leaks. Worked! Worth a try.
Click to expand...
Drove my 31 Model A thousands of miles in seven years with black pepper in an old honey cone rad that the rad shops would not fix.I had tried every stop leak gimmick in the book till an old timer said use pepper if you really want it to stop. Well it worked and I would do it again when needed. And yes just a spoon full does the trick.
 
I have a relative that is a heavy equipment operator.
Most radiators in the Caterpillar's cost a few Thousand,
so if one springs a leak, and he can't shut it down to
have it replaced or repaired, he uses "drum roll", PEPPER,
but he uses a Big Box of it in those big radiators.




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