Bar's Radiator Sealant - good enough?

[alaniscool]

I found a leak in my radiator this weekend, and it's a hair line crack that's a couple inches near the top of the radiator. I added a bottle of Bar's Radiator Sealant in there, and it seems to have stopped the leak. Is that enough to solve the problem permanently or do I have to get the radiator replaced?

 

[Ronstang]

Replace the damn radiator and pray that the Bar's stop leak doesn't screw something else up. Quick fixes like this usually end up doing more damage than good.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: alaniscool
I found a leak in my radiator this weekend, and it's a hair line crack that's a couple inches near the top of the radiator. I added a bottle of Bar's Radiator Sealant in there, and it seems to have stopped the leak. Is that enough to solve the problem permanently or do I have to get the radiator replaced?

Ugh, that stuff is horrible....

Well, I suppose theres no point in replacing it if it's not leaking, unless you're just the cautious type..

 

[alaniscool]

how's it horrible....? What could the bar's screw up? Because I don't want to have to deal with more costly damages later on...

 

[Linflas]

The question I always asked myself when tempted to use something like Bar's is how is the substance smart enough to know how to plug up only the radiator hole and not plug up any small passages in the engine? So far my answer to myself has been that it is not smart enough for that so I have always resisted the temptation to use quick fix stuff like that.

 

[Ornery]

I've used snake oil VERY successfully in the past, but I wouldn't try to kid myself that it's permanent. If you're keeping the car, buy the radiator. Replace the upper, lower and heater hoses while you're at it, as well as the thermostat. The water pump for my car is so cheap (less than $20.00 for a rebuilt), I'd probably replace it too, but suit yourself on that. Don't forget the water pump lubricant.

 

[alaniscool]

Onery, how much would all of that cost including labor?

 

[Ornery]

If you're screwing around with an import, the parts could total severel hundred. My old tank only requires a couple hundred for the parts. The labor is figured per hour for each job. It's probably a three hour total job at whatever the shop charges. Could be $40, $50 or $60 per hour. Imports maybe more. Might take longer to do on certain cars too.

 

[iamwiz82]

Stop Leak will not work and it will end up clogging the rest of your radiator.

 

[thebestMAX]

Ive used Bars Leak in the past sucessfully on small slow leaks but a crack a few inches long???

Correct me if Im wrong (and I know you will) but why not just get the crack solder repaired (depending upon the material it is made out of) by a reputable shop or even do it yourself with a propane torch?? Not rocket science and if you can see the leak you can probably repair it, most are hifdden in the fins and even they can be repaired if you remove the radiator.

Thats the trouble today, no skilled craftsmen or mechanics available.

 

[IGBT]

It may work long enough to sell the car..but don't be surprised if the heater core gets clogged with that stuff.

 

[LordMorpheus]

it goes, doesn't it? then its fine .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . thats all a car is supposed to do . . . go . . . . .. . . . which yours does. You can worry bout anything else later, and dump a coupla more quickey fixes in when that arises . . . . ..

 

[T2T III]

Onery, how much would all of that cost including labor?

A friend just had his radiator replaced yesterday on his 1993 Accord. Price: amost $500. None of the hoses were touched, nor the water pump. This was the price for just the radiator and the labor.

 

[alaniscool]

Well that Bar's stuff didn't hold, the situation got worst where coolant was evaporating in front of my eyes when I'm stuck in traffic, and scalding coolant splashes out when I turn off the engine, so I'm going to get the radiator replaced. But how do I ensure that crappy Bar's stuff doesn't/didn't clog up my heater core?