Stop leak for the heater core?

[Modoc Guy]

Bad bad bad idea. While you might get that crap out of the radiator and heater core, how do you get it out of the block and head?

I agree with the others, bypass the heater core, get a warm coat, do the right thing, because you'll never regret doing the job right.

 

[Zorba]

Bad bad bad idea. While you might get that crap out of the radiator and heater core, how do you get it out of the block and head?

Back flush it.

I've never seen so much hand wringing over something I've either done, or seen done, dozens of times with zero problems, and sometimes fixes.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

I would only use a cooling system stop-leak product if I was stranded out in the boondocks and it was that or die in the middle of the desert.

As others so strongly suggested, bypass the heater core for now or pay the piper and have the heater core replaced. The piper takes Visa and Mastercard.

 

[Lou]

Im with Jerry. Cooling system stop leak would be my absolute last decision.

 

[Sancho]

I would only use a cooling system stop-leak product if I was stranded out in the boondocks and it was that or die in the middle of the desert.

As others so strongly suggested, bypass the heater core for now or pay the piper and have the heater core replaced. The piper takes Visa and Mastercard.

Do they take diner's card and gas cards?

 

[Zorba]

what product did you use?

Ran across my notes - it was "Barr". Certainly didn't cause any problems, but also didn't stop the leak. Just bypass the damn thing until you can deal with it...

 

[Viking Jeeper]

Ran across my notes - it was "Barr". Certainly didn't cause any problems, but also didn't stop the leak. Just bypass the damn thing until you can deal with it...

Yeah yesterday was pretty cold and on a 60 mile trip each way to Osceola National Forrest and back I never needed the heater with hard top and full doors. I have been known to use the heater with doors or top off though.

 

[gasiorv]

I had a pin hole in my radiator a few years ago and I added Barrs Leak, it stopped the leak in the radiator for a few years, but it also plugged up my heater core and I then no longer had any heat. Luckily I was able to flush out the heater core using air pressure, letting it soak in prestone coolant flush, more air pressure, and then steady stream of water (actually had to do this 2x, the first time I got a little heat, 2nd time I was back to normal). Could have been just my luck (I am always learning the hard way) but if your luck is like mine the stop leak and a bypass will have the same effect = no heat.

 

[TheBoogieman]

Yeah yesterday was pretty cold and on a 60 mile trip each way to Osceola National Forrest and back I never needed the heater with hard top and full doors. I have been known to use the heater with doors or top off though.

How cold does it get there in the winter? I used to visit relatives in the Keys and they were wearing sweatshirts when it dropped to 60 at night.

 

[Viking Jeeper]

How cold does it get there in the winter? I used to visit relatives in the Keys and they were wearing sweatshirts when it dropped to 60 at night.

Well people do get used the weather and it can be funny. I grew up in IL but my kids were born here. Yesterday my son remote started the truck to get to school and I laughed at him. Yesterday it was about 32 in the morning and there was frost on the cars outside.

 

[Zorba]

We've been having a cold snap - its gotten into the 40s at nite. It was cold enough for me to drop my hemline to my ankles yesterday, but I'm back in shorts today. I'll show up somewhere in a T-shirt and shorts or knee length skirt when these thin bloods are wearing winter jackets. They'll ask me if I'm cold - "Nope, this is a warm day in central California!"

 

[rancholago]

Years ago, many years ago, if we were in a bind to "quick fix" a SMALL coolant leak, we used pepper, I know I know, but it does work and I have used it in the distant past. It stopped the leak and had no ill effects to the cooling system.
Personnally I do not add anything to the coolant system or any other addive to the vehicle, Just the factory recommended fluids, again when I was in the situation to try to stop a this coolant leak it was a LONG time ago

 

[Range Rover Sport]

+1

DO NOT and I repeat DO NOT put stop leak in your cooling system. It will clog the radiator, the heater core, the cooling passages in the head, and the cooling passages in the block. I worked on a family member's truck who put this stuff in there. We replaced the radiator, he had the heater core replaced, and it has been flushed several times, yet that stuff still remains in there. The only thing that kept it clean enough to cool adequately is a coolant filter. I can't tell you how much money he has spent just from that small bottle of stop leak. One shop he went to actually just told him they won't touch it and guarantee their work unless the entire engine block is replaced.

Just bypass the heater core for now, I can't stress this enough.

You are so right, I'm in Memphis & just bought a 2017 Range Rover Sport & was driving to Cleveland in December & started leaking antifreeze. Didn't know any better but used multiple bottles of stop leak (different brands) that worked. Then car began overheating. Have replaced water pump 3 times, thermostat twice and coolant pipes, unaware that the gunk could be a factor til reading these kinds of forums. So what do I do now? Thinking of replacing radiator & heater core next. Car has less than 70k miles. What do I tell a mechanic? RRs are difficult to work on for most shops. I've spent over $5k...my pockets are drained. Is there a solution?

 

[Chris]

You are so right, I'm in Memphis & just bought a 2017 Range Rover Sport & was driving to Cleveland in December & started leaking antifreeze. Didn't know any better but used multiple bottles of stop leak (different brands) that worked. Then car began overheating. Have replaced water pump 3 times, thermostat twice and coolant pipes, unaware that the gunk could be a factor til reading these kinds of forums. So what do I do now? Thinking of replacing radiator & heater core next. Car has less than 70k miles. What do I tell a mechanic? RRs are difficult to work on for most shops. I've spent over $5k...my pockets are drained. Is there a solution?

Your first mistake was buying a Range Rover.

Your second mistake was joining a Jeep forum.

Your third mistake was replying to a thread that is four years old.

Choose wisely next time. So far your track record is questionable at best.