Radiator sealant, and a trip

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xj0hnx

I wanna be sedated
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So I've got to drive to Houston on Wednesday, and we have a small hole in the radiator, enough that I have to refill it every couple days, and it sprays steam when the engine gets hot. Anyone used that radiator sealant shit they have at Autozone/Pepboys/Advance with any luck? I do not have the time, or money to swap the radiator before the trip.
 
I've tried the sealant before- it's a hit/miss thing. A radiator swap is under $100 and only takes half an hour? Should be quick/easy?
 
I would just fix it as well. Don't want to end up stranded halfway between your house and your destination with a bigger repair bill than just a radiator...
 
I've tried the sealant before- it's a hit/miss thing. A radiator swap is under $100 and only takes half an hour? Should be quick/easy?

Yea, but money is tight, and what I have is going into getting us there. Junkyards are closed by the time I get out of work, and even the day of the trip I am working until we leave.
 
Yea, but money is tight, and what I have is going into getting us there. Junkyards are closed by the time I get out of work, and even the day of the trip I am working until we leave.

Oh, I wasn't even thinking junkyards- more AutoZone or another auto parts store.
 
BARS leak works pretty well. Stay away from aluma-seal or other "metal" type sealers. They cause more problems than they solve.
 
if you know where the hole is why not try some liquid steel or whatnot on the outside, and then that bars stop leak on the inside?
 
BARS leak works pretty well. Stay away from aluma-seal or other "metal" type sealers. They cause more problems than they solve.

Cool, I'll check it out

if you know where the hole is why not try some liquid steel or whatnot on the outside, and then that bars stop leak on the inside?

I know exactly where it's at, right up top under the stay so it sprays coolant and water all over my engine, and windshield when it blows.
 
dude.. i wouldnt risk it... craigslist it... junkyard over the phone-it if you have to... but a leaking radiator is a leaking radiator... it could seem minimal on the outside, but rotted out and ready to burst on the inside....
 
Bars Leak works best when mixed into mostly water. Still if you cook the engine the headgasket will be ruined and the head may warp along with it.
 
i wouldnt touch that bottle fix shit.
i work at an auto parts store and cringe every time somebody buys it.

i have had to repair the shit that that crap causes. its no fun.

if you need a quick cheap fix, buy some plastic weld and put on there when its cold. scuff up the area a bit, and make 100% sure that its dry and oil free when you apply it, and apply over a good area, not just the crack.

keep a bottle of antifreeze and another thing of the plastic weld in the car, that way, if it breaks past, you will have what you need to do it again.

stay away from the bottle leak repair.
 
^ What he said. I put a bottle of some copper type of stuff in the old D16A6 and that stuff clogged eveyphukingthing up. Trashed out the thermostat. It was a put it in and run it 1/2 hour or so, then let it cool down overnight and flush it out.

Never could flust the crap out, it clogged up the radiator cap and line to the coolant burp tank also.

Nasty stuff. I've repaired them with JB weld before - that's a better option. I've still got the stock radiator out of my 91 hatchback and it's in good shape. If it will work in your car it's yours - send me a PM and I'll send it down there - you pay me for shipping only.

Oh, and I had a persistent tank leak that sprayed on the exhaust manifold. The steam phuked the distributor up over time. Rusted the crap out of the innards. that coolant is nasty stuff.
 
The goal for my 99 is an ITR motor ...eventually. So I just need to squeeze a few (hopefully couple) years out of the Y8. In between post 11 and 12 I used the Bar Leak stuff, we'll see how it works. I wound up taking another car for the trip, friend came through at the last minute.

Dual-500, not sure how the hoses line up, but I'll look into it, thank you.
 
^ You bet. Here's a picture of it, aft side showing nipple locations. It's an Autozone special, about 2 years old out of a 1991 Civic Si.

Stock%20Radiator%201.jpg
 
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It's dual core? Don't think it will fit because of the AC :(
 
Ah yes, that could be a problem. I have a good sized band saw, give me the dimensions and I'll cut to fit. :)

If you guys know any member that could use this radiator, have them contact me.
 
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