Coolant Stop Leak Options

[carguybill]

I would like to have a discussion about the various coolant stop leak options.

I have reviewed many of the threads here dealing with this subject but most of them are discussing other ways to solve a coolant leak issue and not so much about the advantages and disadvantages of the various coolant stop leak products.

Most often mentioned is Bars Stop leak (are there two versions of this?), also mentioned are water glass, and just tablets that are dropped into the radiator.

Finally, what are the preferred methods of adding the stop leak products? With just water in the system or along with the water/coolant mixture?
Add when the cooling system is up to operating temperature or ?

Any and all comments will be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[tiger.1000]

Carguy.....everyone is going to be asking you......"tell us more?"

 

[billwill]

I would use SILVER stop if any

 

[carguybill]

Carguy.....everyone is going to be asking you......"tell us more?"

Ok, here's how I got to this point. I had coolant being pushed out of the radiator at high rpm's. I tried "cleaning" the system with Cascade all-in-one dish washing tablets - no change. After removing the fan belt and seeing bubbles in the radiator neck I suspected a head gasket (or worse) leak, even though the compression tests were reasonable. I then decided to pull the heads and see what's going on. I got to the point where I could remove the heads and, of course, they wouldn't come off. Reviewing the comments here re head removal convinced me to not take a chance of damaging my original heads so I decided to put it all back together, make sure the heads are torqued correctly and see if my issue could be "fixed" with "Stop Leak" and this is where I am.

 

[1937pickup]

How long since the rebuild or how long has the engine bin in use?

 

[carguybill]

How long since the rebuild or how long has the engine bin in use?

If the engine was rebuilt it was before I purchased the car and that was some 20 years ago or so. During that time I have had an almost endless series of "problems" with the car which have kept me from driving it at highway speeds. I thought I had everything fixed until this loosing coolant issue came up.

 

[WestCoast]

if you really want to seal a water leak nothing works better than water glass (sodium silicate) JUST FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS AS PRINTED ON THE CONTAINER EXACTLY

 

[Hugh in NC]

I traveled this same road. Ended up with an engine that still ran hot and a plugged radiator. New engine and new radiator fixed everything.

Hugh

 

[G.M.]

You didn't say what year?? The early radiators with the over flow tube coming off the top tank ALL push water out the over flow tube. This is due to the restriction of the 144 radiator tubes. Skips 3 lb valve on the bottom of the over flow tube solves this problem. G.M.

 

[carguybill]

I notice that the most often mentioned product is Bars leaks but looking on-line I learn that there are many versions. The customer reviews run from wonderful to downright scarey. for those who have gone this route, which version did you use?

I'd love to replace the engine and radiator with new as suggested but I can't justify the cost of doing so.

 

[keith oh]

Just as a matter of interest, Dad said back in the Model T and Fordson tractor days, they would stop or at least slow down leaks buy finding a nice dry horse dung ball, crush it up into a powder with their hands and put it in the radiator.

 

[wga]

http://www.irontite.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4

Used this product to clean out cooling system. Then used the ceramic sealer. It works.
You must follow the directions or you will not get the results.