Best fix for a leaky radiator?
Discussion
Why take the risk? I've spent the last week flushing the cooling system on my MX-5 which is completely gunged up, presumably just through not changing the coolant/using tap water, so who knows what putting something that has the potential to gum up waterways can do...
All I am saying is changing the rad will fix it, is easy, and is a proper solution. Putting radweld in it *might* fix it, but could end up being much, much more expensive in the end...
All I am saying is changing the rad will fix it, is easy, and is a proper solution. Putting radweld in it *might* fix it, but could end up being much, much more expensive in the end...
If a new rad is an expensive part you can get them repaired at lower cost, provided the leak isn't too serious. My old man's getting his rad repaired on his kit car at the moment, i think he said its costing more like £50 instead of forking out for a new one. It's not a hugely complicated job.
Bars Seal every time. (Pellets are better than the liquid). I've had cars with a leak, put BARS in it & it's still been fine a couple of years later when I sold it.
It was handy Dad being a Motor Factor though, strongly advised me not to touch the competitors & to use BARS - he used to sell it by the case to 2nd hand dealers. They were willing to pay a little more for it rather than Holts etc. Because it simply worked...
It was handy Dad being a Motor Factor though, strongly advised me not to touch the competitors & to use BARS - he used to sell it by the case to 2nd hand dealers. They were willing to pay a little more for it rather than Holts etc. Because it simply worked...
take the rad out and get a rad specialist to 'recore' it. Comes back good as new.
Had to do this for my old rover 420 turbo when it sprung a leak. The turbo rad's were no longer made, so I got it recored, and cost me about £90. Then i hammed up putting it back in and managed to stick a spanner in it. Took it back, ad the radiator chap repaired it for free!
If you live anywhere near watford, the company was called Hornet Radiators I think
Had to do this for my old rover 420 turbo when it sprung a leak. The turbo rad's were no longer made, so I got it recored, and cost me about £90. Then i hammed up putting it back in and managed to stick a spanner in it. Took it back, ad the radiator chap repaired it for free!
If you live anywhere near watford, the company was called Hornet Radiators I think
Edited by Fordo on Thursday 29th July 14:46
I have used BARS before it works, and it doesnt gum anything up.
It only works on very small cracks or leaks due to poor design. Typically if it is caused by corrosion it won't work due to a large weakened area behind the actual leak.
I used it on a very cheap car that was only used for light duty for a short period, so considered it worth it. I pulled the cooling system apart later on, including the waterpump, and found no evidence that it gummed anything up. Typically car have very large cooling passages and a fine powder has no effect at all.
I have heard that some older engines live the Rover KV6 have very narrow cooling passages..maybe it is not a good idea to use it on this.
Personally I wouldn't use if I needed to trust the car on a holiday....if the rad fails on the motorway or a dual road with no hardshoulder, or round a blind corner on a country road, you could end up in a very unsafe position and with a written off car, or the cooling system could fail and take the headgasket with it and possibly warping the head.
Well worth changing the Rad for the peace of mind.
It only works on very small cracks or leaks due to poor design. Typically if it is caused by corrosion it won't work due to a large weakened area behind the actual leak.
I used it on a very cheap car that was only used for light duty for a short period, so considered it worth it. I pulled the cooling system apart later on, including the waterpump, and found no evidence that it gummed anything up. Typically car have very large cooling passages and a fine powder has no effect at all.
I have heard that some older engines live the Rover KV6 have very narrow cooling passages..maybe it is not a good idea to use it on this.
Personally I wouldn't use if I needed to trust the car on a holiday....if the rad fails on the motorway or a dual road with no hardshoulder, or round a blind corner on a country road, you could end up in a very unsafe position and with a written off car, or the cooling system could fail and take the headgasket with it and possibly warping the head.
Well worth changing the Rad for the peace of mind.
ExPat2B said:
I have used BARS before it works, and it doesnt gum anything up.
It only works on very small cracks or leaks due to poor design. Typically if it is caused by corrosion it won't work due to a large weakened area behind the actual leak.
I used it on a very cheap car that was only used for light duty for a short period, so considered it worth it. I pulled the cooling system apart later on, including the waterpump, and found no evidence that it gummed anything up. Typically car have very large cooling passages and a fine powder has no effect at all.
I have heard that some older engines live the Rover KV6 have very narrow cooling passages..maybe it is not a good idea to use it on this.
Personally I wouldn't use if I needed to trust the car on a holiday....if the rad fails on the motorway or a dual road with no hardshoulder, or round a blind corner on a country road, you could end up in a very unsafe position and with a written off car, or the cooling system could fail and take the headgasket with it and possibly warping the head.
Well worth changing the Rad for the peace of mind.
Oh please. You can still drive without coolant, albeit for a limited time. The clue would be the temperature gauge rising, giving you some warning and a chance to get somewhere safe. Stuck on a blind bend and your car written off! What a load of poppy cock.It only works on very small cracks or leaks due to poor design. Typically if it is caused by corrosion it won't work due to a large weakened area behind the actual leak.
I used it on a very cheap car that was only used for light duty for a short period, so considered it worth it. I pulled the cooling system apart later on, including the waterpump, and found no evidence that it gummed anything up. Typically car have very large cooling passages and a fine powder has no effect at all.
I have heard that some older engines live the Rover KV6 have very narrow cooling passages..maybe it is not a good idea to use it on this.
Personally I wouldn't use if I needed to trust the car on a holiday....if the rad fails on the motorway or a dual road with no hardshoulder, or round a blind corner on a country road, you could end up in a very unsafe position and with a written off car, or the cooling system could fail and take the headgasket with it and possibly warping the head.
Well worth changing the Rad for the peace of mind.
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