Radiator slight leak.

coffeeman · Apr 22, 2007

Hi all

I got a slight leak in the radiator of my tractor. Has anyone used some kind of stop leak? Did it work? What has anyone tried?

Cheers.....Coffeeman

weldingisfun · Apr 22, 2007

There used to be stuff on the market called "Stop Leak". It worked fairly well but, don't know if it is still available. Check with your local auto parts store.

DieselPower · Apr 22, 2007

I use a product called Zuntz (sp?). Have been using it for years in the shop and it works great. It's about $3.00 a tube.

Fordlords · Apr 23, 2007

Bar's Products, Inc. - Premium Automotive Chemicals

These products work extremely well, some of them are available right at Wal-Mart.

-Fordlords-

bindian · Apr 23, 2007

I think it was my brother that told me about using ground black pepper. My old '77 Ford pickup had a slight leak and it worked well at stopping the leak. Do take caution, get it running up to temperature before adding the pepper (about a iced tea spoon) and run it several minutes to make sure the thermonstat is opening and closing. If used on a car or truck...........cycle the heater on and off during this time. The pepper grounds find the leak and really stop the leak.

You can find it at any grocery store on the spice aisle.

hugs, Brandi

DieselPower · Apr 23, 2007

Egg whites work to in a pinch.

irwin · Apr 23, 2007

The local NAPA sells a product called ALUMASEAL. We use it at my shop with some success, but don't recommend any stop leak product for rotted radiators, or heavier leaks. I've seen engine coolant passages practically blocked off from repeated use, also radiators mostly plugged solid from same..

tim

AchingBack · Apr 23, 2007

bindian said:
I think it was my brother that told me about using ground black pepper. My old '77 Ford pickup had a slight leak and it worked well at stopping the leak. Do take caution, get it running up to temperature before adding the pepper (about a iced tea spoon) and run it several minutes to make sure the thermonstat is opening and closing. If used on a car or truck...........cycle the heater on and off during this time. The pepper grounds find the leak and really stop the leak. You can find it at any grocery store on the spice aisle.
hugs, Brandi

Indeed, the black pepper can do the job. I have personal experience with it. An amazing, cheap trick.

George2615 · Apr 23, 2007

I'll third the black pepper trick. I mentioned it two years ago to a guy who had a small radiator leak. I saw him a couple weeks ago and asked how long it lasted before he had to get a radiator. His reply was, its still the same one with the pepper in it and hasn't leaked since.

coffeeman · Apr 23, 2007

George2615 said:
I'll third the black pepper trick. I mentioned it two years ago to a guy who had a small radiator leak. I saw him a couple weeks ago and asked how long it lasted before he had to get a radiator. His reply was, its still the same one with the pepper in it and hasn't leaked since.

I was talking to my son-in-law this evening. He says to me, "You may think this a joke but, try a little black pepper in your radiator." Now that's 4 in favor of the cheap fix. One thing I can say for sure; I can afford to try that fix.

Thanks for all the replies. I will try this sometime this week and will know in about a week or two. The radiator usually takes about 3 or 4 hours to need water. It is a slow leak. I thought I saw the leak near the bottom of radiator. However, I was never able to really pinpoint leak.

Cheers....Coffeeman