The Ford Barn

JtownJoe · 01-13-2013, 02:13 PM

Just put the old girl back together after a head gasket failure & discovered I have a drip from the bottom of the radiator, the local radiator shop no longer repairs radiator, just replaces them, so now either I tear it back out & take it about 50 miles to the nearest shop or try some stop leak like Barr's Leak or another brand. Is there a nasty downside to using these products? I don't have any overheating problems now & don't want to cause any, but just not wild about tearing it out & taking for repairs & who knows how long it might be until it's back. looking for input from any others that have had a similiar experience.

BILL WILLIAMSON · 01-13-2013, 06:10 PM

Joe,
Bars-Leaks is very safe & won't plug up tubes. In an emergency, I saw Chief keep adding it to a D-8 Caterpillar with a pencil sized leak squirtin' out the front of the radiator, slowly, bit by bit, the leak stopped! Ran the rig a week, then pulled the radiator for permanent repair! Bill W.

Mike V. Florida · 01-14-2013, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JtownJoe

Jus so now either I tear it back out & take it about 50 miles to the nearest shop or try some stop leak like Barr's Leak or another brand. Is there a nasty downside to using these products? .

They are only temporary. The weather should be cold now in PA so if it were me, I would make the trip and get it done right.

BILL WILLIAMSON · 01-14-2013, 01:14 AM

Joe,
Can you spot the origin of the leak? Maybe it's a minor thing to repair it. Bill W.

asapguy · 01-14-2013, 01:36 PM

When I was going to NCR service school in Denver back in 1964 I was given a low miles 40 Chrysler 3W cp. It had a crack in the block between two freeze plugs that you could slid a dime into. I poured two bottles of Bars Leak into the radiator & it never leaked another drop. I sold it to a wrecking yard a few weeks later & got a little extra because he said the motor sounded so good.

glenn in camino · 01-14-2013, 08:36 PM

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For small leaks, I like Alumaseal. You can leave it in the system indefinately and keeps leaks stopped.

TDO · 01-14-2013, 08:59 PM

I had a drip in the botton of mine. I could see the leak, so I drained the radiator cleaned it good with a wire brush and put some JB weld on it. Did a nice job, if you can see yours and can ge to it . JB weld will do the trick.

Milton · 01-14-2013, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

Joe,
Bars-Leaks is very safe & won't plug up tubes.

If it is used according to the instructions!!! My radiator shop was having a go-round with my Walker radiator and I had to use the car for a trip. The shop recommended a tablespoon of Bar's Leaks for a temporary fix and it did fine.

I don't know about non-pressurized systems and Bar's but, back in the fifties, I would use a pinch of Bull Durham, if it keep leaking I would add another pinch until the leak stopped. I also field stripped cigarettes and put the tobacco in the cooling system. Worked great and back then I didn't have to worry about cigarette filters.

BILL WILLIAMSON · 01-14-2013, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Milton

If it is used according to the instructions!!! My radiator shop was having a go-round with my Walker radiator and I had to use the car for a trip. The shop recommended a tablespoon of Bar's Leaks for a temporary fix and it did fine.

I don't know about non-pressurized systems and Bar's but, back in the fifties, I would use a pinch of Bull Durham, if it keep leaking I would add another pinch until the leak stopped. I also field stripped cigarettes and put the tobacco in the cooling system. Worked great and back then I didn't have to worry about cigarette filters.

Maybe try dried BASIL flakes, Milton,
It would also cover up that Gassy, Greasy smell too! "MAMMA MIA! WHATS'A BRAND of'a coolant you a'runnin'??"------PESTO-SUPREMO! Bill W.

Fred K-OR · 01-14-2013, 11:26 PM

When in high school (back in the old days), a handful of cow feed worked well to plug up leaks! (also did a good job of plugging the radiator)

Chuck Sea/Tac · 01-15-2013, 12:31 AM

A couple years ago, I called the 3, actually 2 because of conglomerate, leak stop companys and only one brand is designed for non pressurized systems.off hand, I don't remember which it is. The info is in the grarge, and I'm not.

01-13-2013, 02:13 PM	#1
JtownJoe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Johnstown, PA Posts: 342	Radiator drip Just put the old girl back together after a head gasket failure & discovered I have a drip from the bottom of the radiator, the local radiator shop no longer repairs radiator, just replaces them, so now either I tear it back out & take it about 50 miles to the nearest shop or try some stop leak like Barr's Leak or another brand. Is there a nasty downside to using these products? I don't have any overheating problems now & don't want to cause any, but just not wild about tearing it out & taking for repairs & who knows how long it might be until it's back. looking for input from any others that have had a similiar experience.

01-13-2013, 06:10 PM	#2
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: Radiator drip Joe, Bars-Leaks is very safe & won't plug up tubes. In an emergency, I saw Chief keep adding it to a D-8 Caterpillar with a pencil sized leak squirtin' out the front of the radiator, slowly, bit by bit, the leak stopped! Ran the rig a week, then pulled the radiator for permanent repair! Bill W. __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"

01-14-2013, 01:14 AM	#4
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: Radiator drip Joe, Can you spot the origin of the leak? Maybe it's a minor thing to repair it. Bill W. __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"

01-14-2013, 01:36 PM	#5
asapguy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Snohomish Wa. Posts: 389	Re: Radiator drip When I was going to NCR service school in Denver back in 1964 I was given a low miles 40 Chrysler 3W cp. It had a crack in the block between two freeze plugs that you could slid a dime into. I poured two bottles of Bars Leak into the radiator & it never leaked another drop. I sold it to a wrecking yard a few weeks later & got a little extra because he said the motor sounded so good.

01-14-2013, 08:36 PM	#6
glenn in camino Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Camino, CA. Posts: 3,086	Re: Radiator drip Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) For small leaks, I like Alumaseal. You can leave it in the system indefinately and keeps leaks stopped.

01-14-2013, 08:59 PM	#7
TDO Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Enterprise, WV. Posts: 460	Re: Radiator drip I had a drip in the botton of mine. I could see the leak, so I drained the radiator cleaned it good with a wire brush and put some JB weld on it. Did a nice job, if you can see yours and can ge to it . JB weld will do the trick.

01-14-2013, 11:26 PM	#10
Fred K-OR Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Stayton, Oregon Posts: 3,806	Re: Radiator drip When in high school (back in the old days), a handful of cow feed worked well to plug up leaks! (also did a good job of plugging the radiator) __________________ Fred Kroon 1929 Std Coupe 1929 Huckster

01-15-2013, 12:31 AM	#11
Chuck Sea/Tac Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Between Seattle & Tacoma Posts: 2,354	Re: Radiator drip A couple years ago, I called the 3, actually 2 because of conglomerate, leak stop companys and only one brand is designed for non pressurized systems.off hand, I don't remember which it is. The info is in the grarge, and I'm not.