Radiator stop leak

Discuss all things Model T related.
Forum rules
If you need help logging in, or have question about how something works, use the Support forum located here Support Forum
Complete set of Forum Rules Forum Rules

Topic author
Charles J
Posts: 336
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2019 3:57 pm
First Name: Charles
Last Name: Jenkins
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: Coupe
Location: Springfield OH
MTFCA Number: 28066
Board Member Since: 2017

Radiator stop leak

Post by Charles J » Tue Jun 23, 2020 7:50 am

My car still has the original radiator seems too cool okay but I've noticed lately that it is seeping a little bit radiator stop leak yes or no could it do more damage than good

User avatar

Humblej
Posts: 1690
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:23 pm
First Name: Jeff
Last Name: Humble
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Canadian built coupe, 1924 TT C-cab, survivor 1924 roadster
Location: Charlevoix, Mi
MTFCA Number: 28034
Board Member Since: 2006

Re: Radiator stop leak

Post by Humblej » Tue Jun 23, 2020 9:14 am

Never had good results from stop leak in any car. I have always had good results from a real radiator repair shop, yes they are still around.

User avatar

Jim_PTC_GA
Posts: 176
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 1:18 pm
First Name: James
Last Name: Fisher
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1924, 1925-ish
Location: Pine Mountain Georgia
MTFCA Number: 31822
Board Member Since: 2016

Re: Radiator stop leak

Post by Jim_PTC_GA » Tue Jun 23, 2020 9:19 am

I've used the type that looks like copper shavings with no problems to stop weeping radiators.
Just give me time to Rust and I'll be good as new. :) Wabi-Sabi


John kuehn
Posts: 3907
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 8:00 pm
First Name: John
Last Name: Kuehn
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 19 Roadster, 21 Touring, 24 Coupe
Location: Texas
MTFCA Number: 28924

Re: Radiator stop leak

Post by John kuehn » Tue Jun 23, 2020 9:29 am

Using stop leak might last for a while but if it’s a almost 100 year radiator thats what it will be.
If you find a shop that has experience with older radiators that’s the place to go if you can find one. More of the newer shops won’t touch a antique or old tractor radiator. We have 1 shop in our area that will work on the older stuff but no one else will.
Checking out the older small shops might be the best bet to start with.
It’s a toss up with an old radiator either way you go. Been there and done that.


tom_strickling
Posts: 388
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 10:31 am
First Name: Tom
Last Name: Strickling
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 11 Torpedo, 18 Touring, 21 TT Huckster, 24 snowmpbile Staude and Shaw tractor conversions, Model T powered sickel bar mower
Location: New Philadelphia Ohio

Re: Radiator stop leak

Post by tom_strickling » Tue Jun 23, 2020 9:54 am

Where is it weeping ? Is it somewhere a glob of JB Weld might help ?
“The trouble with retirement is that you never get a day off.” – Abe Lemons.


Rich Bingham
Posts: 1922
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:23 am
First Name: Rich
Last Name: Bingham
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1913 runabout
Location: Blackfoot, Idaho

Re: Radiator stop leak

Post by Rich Bingham » Tue Jun 23, 2020 10:16 am

Weeping is not a problem. Dripping is.
"Get a horse !"

User avatar

Rich Eagle
Posts: 6789
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 10:51 am
First Name: Richard
Last Name: Eagle
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1909 TR 1914 TR 1915 Rd 1920 Spdstr 1922 Coupe 1925 Tudor
Location: Idaho Falls, ID
MTFCA Number: 1219
Contact:

Re: Radiator stop leak

Post by Rich Eagle » Tue Jun 23, 2020 12:13 pm

I have always been told not to use stop leak and radiator guys say it will ruin my radiators. Having said that I have used it many times. I prefer Barr's Leak but have used many kinds. I prefer to solder the leak if it is accessible but that takes careful cleaning and often opens up new leaks. I just put some in a good radiator for my Coupe and am not sure it cools as well now. A good radiator man is hard to find but the best solution. I have bought 4 new radiators and that is a good fix too.
Many choices and many opinions.
It's hard for me to say what is best in your case.
Rich
When did I do that?


Norman Kling
Posts: 4068
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 1:39 pm
First Name: Norman
Last Name: Kling
Location: Alpine California

Re: Radiator stop leak

Post by Norman Kling » Tue Jun 23, 2020 12:43 pm

I would say that if you take a casual drive a few miles close to home and take some coolant along, just in case, stop leak would be ok. However if you plan to drive on tours all day long a new radiator would be best. They do make round tube radiators which look like the original. If you want the best cooling and aren't a stickler for authentic look, a flat tube would be the way to go. You can keep the original radiator and if someone wants to make it completely "original" can install the original. If the leak is in a soldered joint, a radiator shop can fix it easily, however, if it is in the core, a fix will very likely show.
Norm


Topic author
Charles J
Posts: 336
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2019 3:57 pm
First Name: Charles
Last Name: Jenkins
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: Coupe
Location: Springfield OH
MTFCA Number: 28066
Board Member Since: 2017

Re: Radiator stop leak

Post by Charles J » Tue Jun 23, 2020 2:37 pm

I've used 3 new Berg's radiators in the past this car is a totally unrestored car the original radiator looks really good other than it just started a little seeping from the top haven't had time to investigate it further yet but if it's something that can just be easily patched I'm going to for now


tom_strickling
Posts: 388
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 10:31 am
First Name: Tom
Last Name: Strickling
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 11 Torpedo, 18 Touring, 21 TT Huckster, 24 snowmpbile Staude and Shaw tractor conversions, Model T powered sickel bar mower
Location: New Philadelphia Ohio

Re: Radiator stop leak

Post by tom_strickling » Tue Jun 23, 2020 2:42 pm

If you come to Winesburg, OH near the Berlin Amish country Beachy's Radiator will look at it. They have cleaned and done some light brazing on a couple for me. As far as repairing individual tubes that are 90 years old, not many places, including them will not even try. They might re-core it.
Address: 2653 US-62, Winesburg, OH 44690 Phone: (330) 359-5421










Phone: (330) 359-5421
“The trouble with retirement is that you never get a day off.” – Abe Lemons.


John Codman
Posts: 1182
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 10:27 am
First Name: John
Last Name: Codman
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1927 Youring
Location: Naples, FL 34120

Re: Radiator stop leak

Post by John Codman » Wed Jun 24, 2020 11:17 am

I agree with humblej. Stop-leak is a Band-Aid at best. If your radiator is leaking, the car will have cooling issues until the radiator is repaired or replaced. If your car is going to be a driver (as opposed to a show car), get a flat-tube radiator. Mine came from Berg's and it's great - perhaps the best money that I have spent on the car.


Topic author
Charles J
Posts: 336
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2019 3:57 pm
First Name: Charles
Last Name: Jenkins
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: Coupe
Location: Springfield OH
MTFCA Number: 28066
Board Member Since: 2017

Re: Radiator stop leak

Post by Charles J » Wed Jun 24, 2020 6:59 pm

Well thanks this is not my daily driver the stop leak worked ok it was a small leak only at times if it comes back I will call Berg's I have a 1932 coupe for the longer trips


jaybee47
Posts: 272
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 8:40 pm
First Name: jay
Last Name: bolante
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1922 Runabout
Location: columbia city indiana
MTFCA Number: 31221
Board Member Since: 2015

Re: Radiator stop leak

Post by jaybee47 » Wed Jun 24, 2020 8:39 pm

Ace Radiator Fort Wayne IN 260-484-0441 has repaired three weeping, leaking original radiators for me. Desoldered and resoldered a funnel too. John is also an old car enthusiast.


Dallas Landers
Posts: 2786
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:26 pm
First Name: Dallas
Last Name: Landers
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 26 Rpu, 23 TT, 24 coupe,
Location: N.E. Indiana
MTFCA Number: 49995

Re: Radiator stop leak

Post by Dallas Landers » Thu Jun 25, 2020 9:54 pm

Ace recored mine after putting 10 lbs of pressure to it and blew holes all over in it after I told them not to. I took it in for a weeping spot.
In the end they done a nice job but $200 more and I could have a new one.


Dennis Prince
Posts: 344
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 2:36 pm
First Name: Dennis
Last Name: Prince
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1)24 touring 2)25 TT's 1)26 roadster 2)26 tourings 1) 26coupe 1)27 funster 1)28 A pick up
Location: Madras Oregon
MTFCA Number: 22802
Board Member Since: 1999

Re: Radiator stop leak

Post by Dennis Prince » Thu Jun 25, 2020 10:25 pm

An old radiator repair man told me years ago to put a about 4 table spoons of ground ginger in a cup of hot water, run the car until it's up to temp and pour it in and run it for a while, it has worked many times for me. I go to the Dollar store and get my ginger there, I always carry a small bottle in my cars and have saved many people on trips.


Bruce Compton
Posts: 576
Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2019 11:23 am
First Name: Bruce
Last Name: Compton
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1921 Coupe, 1925 Coupe
Location: Kemptville

Re: Radiator stop leak

Post by Bruce Compton » Thu Jun 25, 2020 10:41 pm

Dennis is right about the ginger. I first used it 20 years ago on my 1920 touring after trying every modern brand of rad sealant available. One treatment of ginger and the rad never leaked again as long as I had the car (3 years). I just went through a similar problem with an old used rad on an engine test stand that had several major leaks ( rad would drain itself in 1/2 hour). I tried the ginger trick about a week ago and it hasn't leaked a drop since, and is cooling a tight rebuilt engine just fine.

User avatar

RustyFords
Posts: 1554
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:16 am
First Name: Don
Last Name: Allen
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1924 Touring
Location: Houston, TX
MTFCA Number: 50001

Re: Radiator stop leak

Post by RustyFords » Fri Jun 26, 2020 5:45 pm

My worry with StopLeak type stuff is not whether or not it fixes radiator leaks, but what it's doing to the coolant passages inside the engine.

Seems like it's designed to work as a clotting agent of sorts. If so, why wouldn't it bunch up in places where you wouldn't want it to?

I bit the bullet with my 24 Touring and bought a new Berg's unit. Expensive but I don't think I could get the little car hot now if I tried.
1924 Touring

Post Reply Previous topicNext topic