Driving a smooth-running car is always a pleasant experience. But this luxury turns into anxiety, right the moment when there is an issue that damages the internal body parts of your fancy friend. Radiator leakage is such a vehicle problem that it can put you in a stranded situation on the side of a road, in the middle of nowhere.
Knowing ‘how to use radiator stop leak’ can save you from falling into such terrible trouble. This particular skill is pretty much necessary to let your vehicle run safely for a longer period of time.
Table of Contents
- 1 What Is Radiator Stop Leak?
- 2 How to Use Radiator Stop Leak?
- 3 1. Buy a Radiator Sealant
- 4 2. Pour Radiator Stop Leak
- 5 3. Add Radiator Fluid
- 6 4. Start the Engine
- 7 5. Fill the Radiator with Water and Coolant
- 8 6. Allow the Car to Sit for Hours
- 9 Benefits of Using Radiator Stop Leak
- 10 Stops Leakage on Radiator
- 11 Prevents Mechanical Breakdown
- 12 Ensures Safe Ride
- 13 Enhances the Lifespan of Your Car’s Engine
- 14 Precautions to Consider
- 15 Final Words
What Is Radiator Stop Leak?
Radiator stop leak is a coating additive chemical that is mostly applied on the surface of a radiator to stop the leakage of a leaky radiator, hose, and gasket, overall in between components.
There are several types of radiator stop leaks that are available in the market, though all of them have one basic chemistry. Most radiators stop leaks have three main components- Sodium silicate; Aluminum, copper, and iron particles; Ceramic fibers and particles.
How to Use Radiator Stop Leak?
Regardless of your repairing skills, you will be able to use the chemical following these easy steps below.
1. Buy a Radiator Sealant
First thing first, once you notice leakage on your radiator, you need to buy a good quality radiator sealant. This particular coating chemical is pretty much available from different automotive companies, hardware stores, and mechanic shops.
2. Pour Radiator Stop Leak
The next step after you buy one is pouring the product into the radiator according to recommended usage. To know how much additive your radiator needs, make sure you read the product details on its cover. Usually, a car’s radiator needs one full bottle of stop leak chemical so that you can go with that.
To pour it into the radiator, unscrew the cap of it and then pour the stop leak while making sure that the coolant doesn’t drain out unintentionally.
3. Add Radiator Fluid
The third step is about adding radiator fluid to the leak through the radiator cap. While doing so, be aware of the limit that you add the fluid until the coolant level reaches the equal point as recommended by the manufacturers.
4. Start the Engine
Once you are done with pouring and adding radiator sealant, now it’s time to start your car to allow the engine to warm up for 5-10 minutes. This will help to circulate the plastic stop leak through the damaged radiator and will fill up small pinholes around it.
5. Fill the Radiator with Water and Coolant
To finish off the cooling system, then you have to fill your radiator with water and coolant mixture, which should have a 50:50 proportion amount.
6. Allow the Car to Sit for Hours
Last but not the least, let your fancy vehicle sit for 12-13 hours, which will help the stop leak to set up properly. Within this period your radiator will be leakage-free and ready to drive. Make sure you don’t drive your car before this time frame while the radiator sealant will be installed.
Benefits of Using Radiator Stop Leak
A majority number of vehicle owners use radiator stop leak to enhance their riding experience. If you haven’t decided yet, check out some benefits that it offers.
Stops Leakage on Radiator
There are several key benefits of using radiator sealant. First of all, it helps you to stop the leakages of your radiator and also prevents the overheating problem of your engine. This is exactly what it is made for.
Prevents Mechanical Breakdown
Using a stop leak is also a useful way to prevent a mechanical breakdown in your car. If you are riding your car while there is a radiator leakage, it can be harmful and damaging to your car’s engine. Once your car is losing radiator fluid, it can damage your car and leave you stranded on a no-man’s land!
Ensures Safe Ride
It makes your journey safe and sound as there is a minimal risk of overheating in the radiator that could cause leakage into it. Thus, it enhances the overall performance of your car.
Enhances the Lifespan of Your Car’s Engine
As you know, a mechanical breakdown in your car can cost you a lot; using a radiator stop leak minimizes that risk and save your bucks for some other more essential needs. Overall, it increases the lifespan of your engine and your car.
Precautions to Consider
Radiator stop leak is a pretty useful chemical, no doubt. But, it’s not the permanent solution for the leakage problem as it wears out after a certain period of time. It stops the leakage, but once it wears out, the leakage is back. So, it’s actually a primary fix to your radiator’s leakage so that you can at least drive it to the nearest repair shop.
So, take it as a great helping hand of the day when you get stranded because of a sudden engine breakdown for radiator leakage, not as a long-term durability option.
Final Words
So that’s it for today. We hope this article about ‘how to use radiator stop leak’ was helpful enough for you to get a brief idea about the matter.
Make sure you are not lost on a no man’s land because of a mechanical breakdown caused by radiator leakage. A radiator sealant can be a great pick for the day.
