Radiator Stop Leak Success?

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ChasingSand

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Has anyone had any success with any of the radiator stop leak products on the market today? Very small pinhole leak in my new to me CBR radiator and do not think its repairable. 

 
I won't run any stop leak.  That stuff is designed to clog holes.  What do you think it does in the small parts of the engine?

When I had my engine rebuilt, I was amazed at the pix from the builder on some of the holes that were almost 100% clogged from that stuff.

My 2 cents.

 
Glamisdude said:
Pics of where the leak is? 
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It’s leaking between rails and tank end in the right corner. Its either from the second or third weld. Very hard to tell, even when I pressure tested it on the bench. I would have to have the tank end cutoff to find the exact location. 

B249F339-FABD-4339-94D6-C911C79110C4.jpeg

 
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I'd bet it's repairable. I use Steve, OG board member #2 fasthighjumper at Burbank Radiator. He's fixed countless radiators for me over the years. Need to find a good shop near you.

 
Radiator shops are few and far between now a days..... I used to deal with a lil shop in Spring Vally... Art's Radiator on Jamacha Road.... Its an old fashion shop with tanks and all.... If you go, please tell Art I said hello. GL

 
L.R.S. said:
I'd bet it's repairable. I use Steve, OG board member #2 fasthighjumper at Burbank Radiator. He's fixed countless radiators for me over the years. Need to find a good shop near you.
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I think I am going to take it to Steve on Saturday. I have time before the season starts and cant hurt to have him check it out. Thanks again Jeff!

 
Alumaseal and Barg's? both work good.  I generally don't use them in a car as they can clog a heater core.

You can also use half a tube.

Go to the radiator shop first.  If not them....my Napa welds AL, or go to a welding shop..

 
i have used Bar's or alumi seal with great success where a customer didn't want to pop for a $1000 radiator




Roll over image to zoom.




 Product Image Feedback




BAR'S LEAKS

Radiator Stop Leak, 16.9 Oz.

  • Mfr. Model #1186


one is my riding buddy, his radiator leaked 2 years ago and believe it or not its still holding.  i like the liquid form, looks like metallic silver paint.  i like the idea of a1/2 a bottle.  at least keep a bottle in the trailer.  lets address the other issue (it may not be in your case) but this can occur more often if radiator is ridge mounted (no room for expansion)  i see lots of cars where the radiator is either clamped too hard or has no bushing (or too hard of bushings) supporting the radiator.  i also don't like a radiator supported only by a double stud rubber mount by itself.  in a hard hit/crash, the radiator can all but leave the car.  having clamps that capture the top and allow for expansion is key

 
Years ago I put a drill bit thru a radiator, nice big hole.  It was a Sunday and we needed that truck for work the next day, a little JB weld and it was good to go for another 30,000 miles....................FYI, probably not aluminum, I don't remember.

 
I put alumiseal in my radiator 4 years ago.  Still running great.  A good radiator shop can make or repair it though.  Mine was very very minor.  Would look like a termite track going down one of my cross bars after a trip once the sand got stuck to it.

 
not to jump on the band wagon........

When I worked @ Chief auto, I sold a bazillion of the alumaseal powders.  if it was a leak in the radiator core or a welded on tank, I could almost gurantee that it would stop the leak. 

if it was a plastic tank with the fold over tabs................. it was about 50/50. 

Most of my customers would consider that a permanent fix & moved on with life. 

 
Fingers crossed Steve can fix it. If not, stop leak it is! 

 
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Crack an egg in it and it'll seal up!

:lol:  I ran a season in G doing this. Works in a pinch.

 
Done alumna seal powder in a couple radioators in the past it sealed them up one was plastic tanks got a few more months out of it.Same used only half  of it.The other half i used for a tire LOL

 
matt86m said:
Crack an egg in it and it'll seal up!

:lol:  I ran a season in G doing this. Works in a pinch.
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I new a guy who tried that, when it didn't work, he heard pepper works, so put that it there too, still didn't work, but when it leaked it smelled like egg drop soup from the local Chinese restaurant. 

True story. We all laughed are asses off, BTW it was a rental car, and yes he returned it that way. 

 
Huge Shoutout to Jeff (LRS) and Steve at Burbank Radiator! Got me all fixed up. Was able to locate the leak in the corner and use an epoxy to seal it all up. Steve is one of the old school shops still around.

 
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