Anyone tried Bar's Leaks Radiator stop leak

[randy79]

have a tiny pin hole near top of radiator. someone suggested using a product called Bar's Leaks Stop Leak in radiator to fix it for now.
please respond only if you have any experience using these products, particularly the Bar's Leaks stuff.

 

[PhysAssist]

Hi again Randy,

I used it last in the late eighties to buy time for my '77 Nova with similar leaks and it worked for at least 1.5-2 years until other cooling system components (water pump) failed, triggering replacement of the whole system.

Also take a look at: www.tractorbynet.com/forums/parts-repairs/38676-radiator-stop-leak-products.html Bird and OhioGuy made a lot of sense.

Be well,
Thomas

 

[rrgrassi]

I used it in my old Pontiacs. Worked great on the radiator!

Where is the pinhole? It may be less time consuming to solder it.

 

[sdef]

A few months ago I was with a friend in his 3/4T Ford truck going to look at tractor implements when his radiator sprung a leak. We had nothing to fix it with and were barely fortunate enough to be able to empty a redneck "toolbox" and fill it back up with water at a a kind gentlemen's home. Several days later my friend tried some stop leak stuff- no clue which one he used and it lasted for several months before it started leaking again and he eventually replaced the radiator.

I do not recall if I have used the Barr's brand or not but have used radiator stop leak products in the past with pretty decent results. I carry a radiator stop leak product in each of my vehicles- just in case. And I now a collapseable plastic water jug in each of my vehicles- just in case.

 

[sdef]

A few months ago I was with a friend in his 3/4T Ford truck going to look at tractor implements when his radiator sprung a leak. We had nothing to fix it with and were barely fortunate enough to be able to empty a redneck "toolbox" and fill it back up with water at a a kind gentlemen's home. Several days later my friend tried some stop leak stuff- no clue which one he used and it lasted for several months before it started leaking again and he eventually replaced the radiator.

I do not recall if I have used the Barr's brand or not but have used radiator stop leak products in the past with pretty decent results. I carry a radiator stop leak product in each of my vehicles- just in case. And I now a collapseable plastic water jug in each of my vehicles- just in case.

 

[rrrkkk]

It's been around forever, it works in most all cases. It is usually in a bottle and has small pellets in it.

 

[YesDeere]

I have seen the pellets but the liquid has been around for a while now. Works good. But if is an easily accessible spot and not on the seams solder it.

I've seen it last a long time. And also seen people double up when it leaks again. Not recommended, may impede flow.

Back in the day they used course grind pepper. But then again they would throw brake fluid in oil to stop a seal from leaking.

 

[banjodunn]

G'day as others have said it works but I have seen probs when the water is not hot enough to melt the little pellets properly and it can block radiator cores. I have used "chemi-weld" and "silver seal" with great results also.


Jon

 

[npalen]

My dad used Bar's Leaks back in the 1950's and maybe even prior to that. It does what it's designed to do.

 

[AchingBack]

In my Ford Tbird, I had a leak in my heater core, which had only 24,000 miles of use. I used one tube full of the dry powder. It contains almond shells, and other organic substances. It wasn't enough to stop the leak; so I resorted to the old standby, black pepper. I added about 6 ounces of regular black pepper, and after 3 thousand miles, no leaks. More Bars would probably have worked, but I had the pepper, and was pretty sure it would stop the leak, and it did!.