the leak seems to be right underneath where the big hose comes into the radiator itself and there is coolant running along the 'seem' of the radiator(i.e. the right side of the truck if u are facing it)

i checked around the big hose and the clamp is dry so not sure where the leak is. Went to the local canadian tire and bought a 'BAR's LEAKS'. anybody have any luck with this stuff before? should i even be using this?

thanks all

It sounds like the tank seal is leaking. Sometimes a radiator shop can fix it. Bars leak will probably temporarily fix it, but that stuff isn't good for the cooling system. Expect it to stop up your heater core..

It sounds like the tank seal is leaking. Sometimes a radiator shop can fix it. Bars leak will probably temporarily fix it, but that stuff isn't good for the cooling system. Expect it to stop up your heater core..

is there a few basic things i can check to make sure it is the tank seal?

so ur telling me not to use that bar's leaks stuff. if i were to use it i would pour it directly into the radiator? also, isn't if i have to replace the rad anyway does it matter if i used it or not?

I would have a radiator shop pressure test the cooling system and find out exactly where it is leaking. From there you can make your decision whether to repair or replace. I would only use bars leak in an emergency such as if I were driving in the middle of the desert and need something to temporarily stop or slow down coolant leak.

I would have a radiator shop pressure test the cooling system and find out exactly where it is leaking. From there you can make your decision whether to repair or replace. I would only use bars leak in an emergency such as if I were driving in the middle of the desert and need something to temporarily stop or slow down coolant leak.

ok thanks bud i'll get it looked at. funny thing is leak stops sometimes and then starts dripping again :screwy:

Which brings up another question. Does your system leak when the engine is cold such as when parked? Or does it leak only when hot and the system pressurized. Is the enderside of your engine wet with coolant? Try this. Hose down under your engine good, use gunk if you have to, and let it dry. After driving check the underside and see if you can detect the leak.

Which brings up another question. Does your system leak when the engine is cold such as when parked? Or does it leak only when hot and the system pressurized. Is the enderside of your engine wet with coolant? Try this. Hose down under your engine good, use gunk if you have to, and let it dry. After driving check the underside and see if you can detect the leak.
well it is way too cold here -20C for me to hose down the engine.

but i think the leak only happens when the system is pressurized and i tried with all my might to get it to pressurize today but even after driving around and idling for an hour no pressure!

i think the leak is right at the top of the rad(right side) because that is where i chase the leak marks to. my temp. gauge barely lifted up from COLD...it was a exceptionally cold day today though..-25ish with windchill.

so i will need a warmer day to trace my leak i guess...because it wasn't leaking today...if its just a hole would bubbegum work? :evillol:

Nah, bubblegum would fall off! Seriously, the only real way to tell is find a cooling system pressure tester. It's basically an airpump you can insert into the rad cap neck and pressurize the system. Don't use an air compressor. The system can only handle 15-16lbs of pressure. If you need a temporary fix, you could always loosen the radiator cap 1 notch so it wouldn't build pressure. But this might not work in a hot climate, since the system uses pressure to prevent coolant boiling. But at -25, I'd say your in no danger of overheating! :-)

Nah, bubblegum would fall off! Seriously, the only real way to tell is find a cooling system pressure tester. It's basically an airpump you can insert into the rad cap neck and pressurize the system. Don't use an air compressor. The system can only handle 15-16lbs of pressure. If you need a temporary fix, you could always loosen the radiator cap 1 notch so it wouldn't build pressure. But this might not work in a hot climate, since the system uses pressure to prevent coolant boiling. But at -25, I'd say your in no danger of overheating! :-)
yes now i am really considering using that bars leaks stuff, if i do should i wait for a warm day? i talked to a mechanic today and he said the plastic might be cracked so pour it in....now u were telling me it would stop my heater core?(pardon my lack of knowledge) so its not just a matter to trying whatever u can since if u'll have to replace the rad....ur telling me i can damage a lot more? why are they selling this stuff in the store then!

Yes, it can and most likely will stop up the heater core, which provides heat inside the vehicle. If you must use it, start off by using about half of it. Run the engine until it's up to operating temp, while running the heater full blast. If you need to use more, let it cool down and run the other half. The reason they keep selling it, is because people keep buying it.

As someone explained already, BarsLeak is meant for short term emergency fixes. It really does work on weeping cracks in the radiator. I've seen it fix a rock pinhole. But, once you get back to civilzation, you're supposed to flush it out and really fix the problem. Since you're not really sure where the leak is, pressure test it at a garage. they may have to jerk the radiator and fix it. You might be able to wrench out a good used one at the junk yard. Either way, invest in some new hoses while you're at it.

Sorry about the -25 degree weather. we're suffering here in San Diego with 81 degree temperature. Back to your radiator. My advise is to get it fixed right. The cooling system is too ciritical a system to do any patch up fix.

Sorry about the -25 degree weather. we're suffering here in San Diego with 81 degree temperature. Back to your radiator. My advise is to get it fixed right. The cooling system is too ciritical a system to do any patch up fix.

yes that is the plan to do it right. amazingly i have not leaked at all in the last two days. is this because of the cold weather possibly?

Probably. Do you do any city driving? It sounds like you do mostly highway miles..

For some short term relief ... try running with the radiator cap not fully in place, but loose. This will prevent the higher pressure on the radiator and slow the leak.

For the long term and proper fix ... start shopping for a new radiator. New radiators in the Atlanta area can be had for $100+. Even AutoZone carries many models of radiators.

Probably. Do you do any city driving? It sounds like you do mostly highway miles..

all city driving....

12ounce: for some reason i am not getting enough pressure right now anyway. but that is a good trick! steamy trick!

City driver, eh? That's odd there's no pressure buildup. Either that, or maybe some crud stopped the crack/hole up.

boys the rad leak is as is nothing fixed yet. but my temp gauge barely lifts over C its almost making a 120 degree angle if u can imagine.

could this be related to the leak what should i check? my gas mileage is bad too these past few days. it is cold but i the truck should reach normal operating temprature right?

i am a gm tech and i dont recomend it. although i have used it on one vehicle and it caused more harm than good.

dylan

I figure your milage problem is related to the temp. A cold engine will use more fuel.

I figure your milage problem is related to the temp. A cold engine will use more fuel.

yes but why the cold engine? it is -10C but after running for 1/2 hour the engine should reach normal operating temp?

just wanted to update that i did end up using my $6 bottle of barsleaks. had to use it twice used almost 10 out of the total 12 oz bottle. lot of gunk at the bottom i didn't pour into the rad.

it looks ok for now no more leaks.i know a lot of you advised me against using it but i comes down to $$$.

if there is any other problems i will post.

Bar's Leaks Heavy Duty Radiator Stop Leak --

So have a rear wheel drive vehicle with belt driven fan. Going to replace the water pump. Dropped the fan into the radiator. Got a hole -- in a nearly new radiator!

Bought Bar's Leaks. It worked FANTASTICALLY! The stuff is like goo.

Couple years (probably six or seven years) later, driving home from vacation, the radiator hose springs a leak. Okay, not exactly a leak -- it disintegrates! Inside the hose is this goo substance. Apparently the goo stopped a pinhole radiator hose leak (which would have been caught), and continued to mask the leak as the hole got bigger. Okay, so the failure here is that I went six or seven years between changing my hoses.

Couple years go by again. The radiator has a catastrphic failure -- specifically, the pipe where the upper radiator hose connects to the radiator falls off! No lie. Figure the radiator is maybe ten years old or so.

The Bar's Leaks worked great, but it masks other issues that would have resulted in my replacing the radiator in a normal manner instead of this catastrophic failure.

I'd use it again, but be aware of what will likely happen.

--Mark

http://www.marksatterfield.com

I'm a little puzzled. The cooling system leak has nothing to do with the failure of the engine to warming up quickly. I understand that the cooling system should be tight. But the problem with the engine not warming could be from a variety of causes. Maybe the thermostat is stuck open. Maybe the fan clutch is stuck in full cocoling position. Maybe the gauge reading is incorrect or the temperature sensor to the PCM is bad.

hey everyone. i need your help! i want to get my license plates personalized. I have a 1984 Ford Ranger. its black and its 4 wheel drive. I am a country girl who likes to play in the mud.

can you think of any ideas?

help me out please!

hey everyone. i need your help! i want to get my license plates personalized. I have a 1984 Ford Ranger. its black and its 4 wheel drive. I am a country girl who likes to play in the mud.

can you think of any ideas?

help me out please!