2001 Taurus heater core...aluminum???

[cbolt1967]

Over the past week I have noticed a coolant smell in my car every once in a while. I drive around 150 miles a day in city traffic and only smell this towards the end of the day and then only intermittently. I'm sure its a small heater core leak. I want to use Bar's Leaks, but I didn't know if I needed the regular or for Aluminum. Can't seem to locate anywhere what its made of. Anyone know?

[shorod]

I'm not going to endorse the use of Bar's Leak, and I don't know what the 2001 model year heater core is made out of. However, before using the Bar's Leak or replacing the heater core, I'd suggest you find a cooling system pressure tester and pressurize the system to see if the leak is in the engine compartment and you are just picking up the smell from the cowl vent.

-Rod

[MyTaurus8AChevy]

Originally Posted by cbolt1967

I want to use Bar's Leaks

I don't think this stuff has ever worked for us in any car that we've used it on. If the leak is larger than a pin sized hole I don't see how it can work. Hope you have better luck with it than we did

Call your Ford dealer parts department and ask them for a price on a new core. When they give it to you ask them if it's aluminum or not. Check all of your hoses. They will go bad before the core will. If you live in a area where they salt the roads, it's possible that the salt corroded something. They add a chemical to the salt which makes it VERY corrosive. Cars one or two years old are having corrosive problems because of it. If you're a victim of this then the state will (should) help pay for the damages. Contact your highway transportation department for more information (they should also have a website). Not all states use the chemical.