Radiator drip

JtownJoe

JtownJoe

Senior Member
Just put the old girl back together after a head gasket failure & discovered I have a drip from the bottom of the radiator, the local radiator shop no longer repairs radiator, just replaces them, so now either I tear it back out & take it about 50 miles to the nearest shop or try some stop leak like Barr's Leak or another brand. Is there a nasty downside to using these products? I don't have any overheating problems now & don't want to cause any, but just not wild about tearing it out & taking for repairs & who knows how long it might be until it's back. looking for input from any others that have had a similiar experience.
 
Joe,
Bars-Leaks is very safe & won't plug up tubes. In an emergency, I saw Chief keep adding it to a D-8 Caterpillar with a pencil sized leak squirtin' out the front of the radiator, slowly, bit by bit, the leak stopped! Ran the rig a week, then pulled the radiator for permanent repair! Bill W.
 
JtownJoe said:
Jus so now either I tear it back out & take it about 50 miles to the nearest shop or try some stop leak like Barr's Leak or another brand. Is there a nasty downside to using these products? .
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They are only temporary. The weather should be cold now in PA so if it were me, I would make the trip and get it done right.
 
When I was going to NCR service school in Denver back in 1964 I was given a low miles 40 Chrysler 3W cp. It had a crack in the block between two freeze plugs that you could slid a dime into. I poured two bottles of Bars Leak into the radiator & it never leaked another drop. I sold it to a wrecking yard a few weeks later & got a little extra because he said the motor sounded so good.
 
I had a drip in the botton of mine. I could see the leak, so I drained the radiator cleaned it good with a wire brush and put some JB weld on it. Did a nice job, if you can see yours and can ge to it . JB weld will do the trick.
 
BILL WILLIAMSON said:
Joe,
Bars-Leaks is very safe & won't plug up tubes.
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If it is used according to the instructions!!! My radiator shop was having a go-round with my Walker radiator and I had to use the car for a trip. The shop recommended a tablespoon of Bar's Leaks for a temporary fix and it did fine.

I don't know about non-pressurized systems and Bar's but, back in the fifties, I would use a pinch of Bull Durham, if it keep leaking I would add another pinch until the leak stopped. I also field stripped cigarettes and put the tobacco in the cooling system. Worked great and back then I didn't have to worry about cigarette filters. :D
 
Milton said:
If it is used according to the instructions!!! My radiator shop was having a go-round with my Walker radiator and I had to use the car for a trip. The shop recommended a tablespoon of Bar's Leaks for a temporary fix and it did fine.

I don't know about non-pressurized systems and Bar's but, back in the fifties, I would use a pinch of Bull Durham, if it keep leaking I would add another pinch until the leak stopped. I also field stripped cigarettes and put the tobacco in the cooling system. Worked great and back then I didn't have to worry about cigarette filters. :D
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Maybe try dried BASIL flakes, Milton,
It would also cover up that Gassy, Greasy smell too! "MAMMA MIA! WHATS'A BRAND of'a coolant you a'runnin'??"------PESTO-SUPREMO! Bill W.
 

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When in high school (back in the old days), a handful of cow feed worked well to plug up leaks! (also did a good job of plugging the radiator)
 
A couple years ago, I called the 3, actually 2 because of conglomerate, leak stop companys and only one brand is designed for non pressurized systems.off hand, I don't remember which it is. The info is in the grarge, and I'm not.
 
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