BARS LEAK.... does it really work?

[PRE-H20]

hey fellas....

does this stuff really work?.... i sprung a leak from somewhere in my radiator.....

not from the top hose
not from the bottom hose

left side of the radiator if your facing the radiator

the leak is about 2-3 drops a second........

got the heavy duty bars leak bottle.....

 

[surf]

I used the Bar's Leak Block Seal with copper in it to fix a lower intake manifold leak and it worked great with no issues. I don't know that I would use "heavy duty" to deal with such a small leak but that is your call. I know a lot of people bag on this stuff but it worked for me.

 

[explorerguy89]

if you use it follow directions religiously for real or it will mess up your block

 

[my pos mounty]

BARS Leak

That stuff is meant to be a temporary fix to holes smaller than a pin. I would not use the "heavy duty" in the radiator (or anywhere else). That stuff could clog the coolant passages in the block or begin to restrict them. That will cause you alot more serious issues later down the road.

 

[marragtop]

For something as simple as a radiator, I wouldn't put it in. You are risking the water pump, heater core, and block. I'd keep adding water until you can replace the radiator. You can also try loosening the radiator cap to reduce the pressure to see if that slows down the leak.

 

[RedneckRambo]

I have used the stuff and it worked for me. but i am also planning on rebuilding my engine in the future too

 

[PRE-H20]

Crapppp!

i wish i would have received the notification to my regular emails that all you guys had posted responses..... i had relied on that rather than to check the thread itself....

since i hadnt received the notices of the responses i assumed no one had chimed in..... i went ahead and dumped the bars leak in.........

after reading the "no dont do it" i am not sure if what happened is good or bad.... but after i dumped the stuff in and ran the engine most of the water/coolant just spewed out of the radiator.... i dont know if the holes got worse or what but it wasnt 2-3 drops a second.... i was a strong stream of water that came out.... most of the fluid came out........

at the least i know i have to replace the radiator... i hope i didnt mess up my block or water pump etc etc....

ok.... assuming i DIDNT just ruin my engine....

is it worth just buying a used radiator and putting that in?

(this is a second car, 250K miles on it and i dont really worry about it, its wwaaayyyyy past its prime and just about to retire so i am not to thrilled to put in a new anything.... if i can keep it alive for a while that would be great if not dumping it is a real possibility)

... that being said.. is buying a used one and taking my chances worth it..... i can get a used one for 45.00......

 

[my pos mounty]

Sure you can put a used one in there, but check it over, maybe have it pressure tested before hand. Then keep in mind what the great Forrest Gump said "You never know what your gonna get"

 

[PRE-H20]

ya i know that i can have a used one put it but just wondering if its worth taking the chance ya know?....

anyone have any inexpensive parts websites to check out?

please.

 

[malohnes]

New radiators are less than $100. I got a new one shipped all the way to alaska and th shipping was more than the radiator.

 

[TedJ]

try www.radiatorbarn.com

I bought a viseton one for mine (they make them for ford), but I also got one for my dad's car from radiatorbarn and it was cheap and seems to be fine.

Sealer will NEVER EVER EVER work well on a leak from the end tank of a plastic/aluminum radiator. The materials keep expanding and contracting at different rates and the movement knocks any sealing particles out. Plus, it does a great job of clogging the rest of the cooling system. Save it for last resort reapairs on junkers....