MTFCA Forum

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

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.

I've used the type that looks like copper shavings with no problems to stop weeping radiators.

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.

Where is it weeping ? Is it somewhere a glob of JB Weld might help ?

Weeping is not a problem. Dripping is.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.