Stop-leak for leaky radiator?

[Nimbley]

Absolutely do not use any kind of stop leak. It plugs up any small hole and you will have overheating problems. I replace dozens of radiators and heater cores every year that we’re completely plugged with that stuff. Replacement with a quality part is the only fix.

Now if your in the middle of nowhere it’s ok to use to get home, but I’d bypass the heater core before adding it and then as soon as you’re home flush everything 10 times and replace the leaking radiator.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Anyone have success with a radiator shop repairing the original?

No, they're not soldered together at the top & bottom tanks so they're not resealable. Early TJs like my '97 came with defective radiators that leaked. That created a nationwide backlog so when mine started leaking there were none available so they sent my TJ over to a radiator shop to have them try to fix the leak but they couldn't stop it for more than a few days. The dealer finally had to install an aftermarket radiator, only telling me it was a very high-end and that they didn't go cheap... that Jeep corporate instructed them to not use a low-end replacement. It worked fine, I was happy to finally have the leak gone.