Well here I go with this ? .. I have a 97 Ford Escort that apparently has a slow coolant leak. Appears to be the side of the radiator..

Well the low coolant light is on in the dash, and the overfill tank is empty..

 

I open the radiator to check the coolant level the last two weeks and it appears to be full ...

 

I attempted to put some sealer in the Radiator itself and I barely got two spoon fulls in it...

 

So a buddy of mine is telling me to dump the whole bottle of sealer in the overfill tank, and that if I needed to add coolant I should not be pouring it in the radiator itself, that todays cars you dump it in the overfill tank..

 

Now I have not had radiator problems since I had a 78 firebird, so I may be out of date but I just dont see why I should be dumping sealer in the overfill tank..

Of course the 78 Firebird I could see directly in the radiator when I removed the cap, This Ford Escort has a small neck that is angled away from the radiator whick makes it impossible to look in the radiator ...

So what do u guys think the Dealio is LOL ????

The overflow is part of a closed loop system. As the fluid heats up and expands, it goes in the overflow tank. As the fluid cools off, it gets sucked back in the radiator.

 

With a leak you no longer have a sealed system. I would put the entire container in the radiator. You have to use the entire bottle for it to work to get the mixture right. Remove some coolant from the radiatro if you have to make room for the bottle.

 

nipper

I think, that if the side tank is leaking, you can expect the car to strand you very soon. Bars leaks is good if you have a small leak in the core itself. If the tank is beginning to separate, you can bet it'll finish at the worst possible time. For what they cost, it's in your best interest to go ahead & stick either a new, or good used rad in.

 

I should add that I'm a Ford guy in addition to Subies. Cut me & I still bleed Ford Blue.

Ive never really liked the idea of adding something to a system that wasnt designed for it. Coolant and only coolant is ok to put in IMO. That Stop leak stuff can clog up the engine passages and such. I wouldnt trust it but thats just me. If i have a leak i find out where its coming from and replace that piece. Just my 2 cents.

Ive never really liked the idea of adding something to a system that wasnt designed for it. Coolant and only coolant is ok to put in IMO. That Stop leak stuff can clog up the engine passages and such. I wouldnt trust it but thats just me. If i have a leak i find out where its coming from and replace that piece. Just my 2 cents.

 

well im taking 1 cent away.

 

 

Barrs (only thing i'll use) has been on the market for eons with minimal issues. And stop leak needs temperiture, air exposure, and pressure to work. With none of those it just floats around.

 

If its a seem leak, have you looked to see if you can crimp the seem?