Will Williams
Well-Known Member
Has any one ever used this product for a coolant leak?
Permanent Coolant Leak Repair with K-Seal
- Thread starter Will Williams
- Start date
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Copied from other thread, but...
Oh good lord NO! Never, ever put any of those radiator leak seal products in any car with a modern cooling system (post 1980s). They usually contain either a silicate or poly additive that will clog your radiator passages no matter what the marketing hype says. Modern radiators have very small coolant passages and will clog with that stuff. Plus if you have a significant leak, that won't do squat anyway. Better off fixing the actual problem than adding something that could lead to a more costly repair.
I would MAYBE use it if I was 100 miles away from civilization, had no extra water or coolant to add, and HAD to for an emergency... with the full knowledge that I would later have to fix the original problem, flush the entire system about half a dozen times to get all that gunk out, and refill with fresh coolant and then keep a sharp eye on my temp guage for any residual issues that may crop up over the next 10K miles.
Put it this way. If you took your truck to a mechanic for the leak and he gave it back to you 15 mins later and said "All done, I poured some of this magical fairy juice in your radiator and it's all better now. Have a great day!", would you trust him that the repair was done properly?
Oh good lord NO! Never, ever put any of those radiator leak seal products in any car with a modern cooling system (post 1980s). They usually contain either a silicate or poly additive that will clog your radiator passages no matter what the marketing hype says. Modern radiators have very small coolant passages and will clog with that stuff. Plus if you have a significant leak, that won't do squat anyway. Better off fixing the actual problem than adding something that could lead to a more costly repair.
I would MAYBE use it if I was 100 miles away from civilization, had no extra water or coolant to add, and HAD to for an emergency... with the full knowledge that I would later have to fix the original problem, flush the entire system about half a dozen times to get all that gunk out, and refill with fresh coolant and then keep a sharp eye on my temp guage for any residual issues that may crop up over the next 10K miles.
Put it this way. If you took your truck to a mechanic for the leak and he gave it back to you 15 mins later and said "All done, I poured some of this magical fairy juice in your radiator and it's all better now. Have a great day!", would you trust him that the repair was done properly?
Hamfisted
Full Access Members
Used car lots and people that sell them use it ....
Exactly...
Trainmaster
Old School Member
I did have some temporary success using sealer in a very specific way.
I had a Jeep with a heater core with a leak and wanted to get through winter. I dissolved several of the General Motors sealant tablets in a bucket of hot water, disconnected the heater core and circulated the water with a "pony pump" through only the heater core for twenty minutes.
Afterwards I reconnected the heater hoses. The leak stopped and remained fixed for a couple of years, and I didn't have to worry about that crap getting into my radiator or water jacket.
I really wouldn't want that stuff in my radiator or engine unless the car was junk.
I had a Jeep with a heater core with a leak and wanted to get through winter. I dissolved several of the General Motors sealant tablets in a bucket of hot water, disconnected the heater core and circulated the water with a "pony pump" through only the heater core for twenty minutes.
Afterwards I reconnected the heater hoses. The leak stopped and remained fixed for a couple of years, and I didn't have to worry about that crap getting into my radiator or water jacket.
I really wouldn't want that stuff in my radiator or engine unless the car was junk.
OP
OP
Will Williams
Well-Known Member
That is what I thought. I got under the vehicle still looking for where the leak is coming from. I looks like it is above the muffler. I was wondering if the rear heater is in this area.
Trainmaster
Old School Member
Yes it is. Not sure on the Expeditions but the hose clamps rot out on Explorers in this area. You don't mention your year, but check out the rear heater clamps and heater core. A very easy repair.
