The debate on the effectiveness of a radiator stop leak sealant continues to dominate many automobile forums online and offline. What these self-styled experts on vehicle cooling systems should rather address with greater urgency is the importance of taking care of radiator leakages to avoid engine damage.
Your Car’s Radiator
The vehicle you drive is not simply an assembled contraption of mechanical parts. Just like your body’s circulation system your vehicle has fluids running inside it in order to function properly. The radiator in your car is an important part despite the little attention it gets from most drivers. 
Without it the high temperatures and heat generated by the engine while you are driving will soon cause all the moving parts to seize. The damage in the entire assembly would call for a replacement of almost every moving part inside the vehicle’s engine, at a quite significant cost.
To prevent overheating, every car uses engine oil which courses through the engine to lower temperatures and lubricate moving parts. The relief provided by oil is never enough due to the high levels of heat produced while the engine is working. This is where the radiator comes in to take away the heat from the coolant.
The coolant basically travels through the radiator to cool off before it is let to circulate inside the engine again. If the coolant were left to leak from the radiator, the engine’s temperature would climb to a point where your car would simply come to a dead stop. A leakage anywhere inside the radiator should therefore be avoided at all costs.
How To Fix Radiator Leak Quickly
There are several home made remedies and tactics to stop a radiator leak, especially if it is a simple trickle. However, the wise step to take in the case of a massive leakage before driving off is to consult a mechanic. The following steps can provide temporary remedial assistance for small leakages. Essentially you will need to be prepared with some water, duct tape, and fine black pepper.
- Initially, you will need to find the exact spot where the leakage is seeping from. If the leakage originates from one of the hoses leading to or out of the radiator, seal it temporarily with a patch of durable duct tape. This temporary measure might stop the leakage for a few days until you get a new hose.
- If the source of the leakage originates from inside the radiator, remove the cap and sprinkle two spoonfuls of fine black pepper inside. When the pepper gets inside the radiator it will swell up and with addition of water it will cover the leaking spot. Add more pepper until the leakage stops. Notably, egg whites can also be used when black pepper is not readily available.
- Naturally, you will need to consult a qualified mechanic as soon as possible after taking the aforementioned measures. Avoid driving for days with a leaky radiator sealed with duct tape or black pepper. A mechanic will know how to address the problem and its causes.
Using A Radiator Leak Stopper
You can also repair a leaky radiator using a commercially manufactured radiator leak stopper. This is a product that provides temporary seal to leakages in your car’s radiator. It also helps in preventing rusting in your car’s cooling system and also acts as a lubricant too. It has properties that are effective in sealing any leak quickly without damaging your engine’s cooling system. It blends well with your engine coolant.
You should however be careful when using this product as it a goopy substance with the potential to leave a messy trail down the road if not used properly. It is advised to only use the goopy additive after you have completely failed to locate the source of the leakage in places you can easily repair with duct tape. It’s not very wise to make a futile attempt at repairing your radiator only to end up messing your garage floor.
As a qualified mechanic will advise you, it is important to drain out the radiator before you can fix the leakage. A new radiator comes with a warranty so should it develop a leakage that you can not repair, ask for a replacement from your car dealer.
It is equally, if not more, important to find out the cause of the leakage. This is because leakages occur in both new and old radiators due to many reasons. Some of the major causes are corrosion and rusting occasioned by the kind of coolant used. However, this problem is usually solved by the use of a good radiator stop leak sealant.
