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i need a cheap,easy,fast radiatior fix

twoslo4five0

twoslo4five0

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im leaving in 2 days to make a 400 mile trip..i found that my tow rig (99 chevy cc) has sprung a small leak in the radiator...not in the fins but in the sides beside the fins...i cant really afoord a new radiator right now so what are some tried and true methods to plug this thing..
 
Bars Leaks! It looks like brown oil with pellets in it. Follow the directions. It will work but like all these products it does hamper with radiator efficiency but no permanent damage that a radiator shop doing a rod out will not repair.
 
Have you tried draining, drying. cleaning and then JB weld for a temp fix?
 
i havnt tried anything yet it just happened today...call me crazy but i thought i remembered seeing something on a tv show about using an egg or something..i know that sounds crazy but i thought i remembered something about it
 
bars leak may work, silver solder is another brand or crack an egg in it. :eek1:
 
I read somewhere - don't remember where - but there is a solder and a propane torch method that can be used to solder it closed. I have never tried it, but that may be another option.
 
Pepper works too. I have used it for an emergency stop leak on the trail when a motor mount broke and the fan grazed the radiator cutting open some tubes.
 
In a pinch you can also get a very low pressure cap or at worst leave the cap loose. Now you know this isn't going to work well pulling a load or big mountains or 100 degree weather at 80 MPH right? I'd hate to see you hurt your motor.
 
If the radiator has corroded through, just be aware it needs replaced. Not saying don't do the temp fix, but it's on borrowed time.

Edit: pinhole in plastic, if that's what it is, probably even worse lol.
 
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Why take the chance dude? That truck is going to be working hard towing that truck as is, just pony up and get a new one or take it to a local radiator shop and get them to put new tanks on it if possible. Bars-Leak and all that other crap just cloggs the heater core and stuff, not worth the mess it makes in my opinion, if it was a older vehicle I didnt care about then sure but I wouldnt do it to something that nice.
 
daleearnhardt01 said:
Why take the chance dude? That truck is going to be working hard towing that truck as is, just pony up and get a new one or take it to a local radiator shop and get them to put new tanks on it if possible. Bars-Leak and all that other crap just cloggs the heater core and stuff, not worth the mess it makes in my opinion, if it was a older vehicle I didnt care about then sure but I wouldnt do it to something that nice.
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Agreed.
 
daleearnhardt01 said:
Why take the chance dude? That truck is going to be working hard towing that truck as is, just pony up and get a new one or take it to a local radiator shop and get them to put new tanks on it if possible. Bars-Leak and all that other crap just cloggs the heater core and stuff, not worth the mess it makes in my opinion, if it was a older vehicle I didnt care about then sure but I wouldnt do it to something that nice.
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dont have the money plain and simple
 
IMHO, Pay now or really pay later.... Break down's are not fun. If you are towing, I would cancel my trip based on a bad radiator.

But again, that's just me.

John
 
I think Macgyver cracked an egg into a radiator in an old jeep on one episode... if he did it, it must work!:haha:
 
mr.smartass said:
I think Macgyver cracked an egg into a radiator in an old jeep on one episode... if he did it, it must work!:haha:
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It does work, but that is something that I would use if I needed to limp my truck home, but sure as hell isnt something I would do as part of my preparations for a several hundred mile trip towing a few thousand pounds :haha:
 
The old guys swear black pepper will stop a small leak in a radiator. Never tried it, but.................................................

Plastic sides or metal?
 
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