Radiator Leak

[jc3612]

What is the opinion on a radiator stop leak fluid? Not necessarily saying that s the option I ll go with vs replacement but I do have a leak. Maybe not quite bad enough for a replacement radiator but maybe bad enough that a stop leak fluid wouldn t help. Figured I would ask for anybody s experience using something like this before I make my decision. The tractor is a 66 diesel 3000. Thanks!

 

[jtwat]

Take it out and have it repaired. Stop leak may or may not work. You don't want anything in you cooling system but a 50/50 mix.

 

[338ftw]

Depending on where the leak is you maybe able to repair it. I have soldered a few for people over the years.

 

[Destroked 450]

I used stop leak in MIL's 5600 last spring, we were all hooked ready to mow hay and found a small leak in the radiator. Close inspection showed the radiator was in bad shape and would need replaced, figured we try some stop leak to see if we could get through first cutting. We made it though the whole year and are using it to feed hay to cattle now, BUT it will get a new radiator before hay season begins.
If your radiator has a hole poked in it have it repaired before warm weather arrives and you need the tractor more, if the radiator hasn't been damaged and is just leaking it's probably rotten and needs replaced.
If you need the tractor now a small amount of stop leak won't hurt but between the time bad weather ends and grass cutting begins fix or replace the radiator. A couple hundred for a new radiator is cheap compared to repairing a overheated engine.

 

[Larry NCKS]

Try a half cup of cinnamon first.

 

[jc3612]

(quoted from post at 11:04:18 01/03/20)
I used stop leak in MIL's 5600 last spring, we were all hooked ready to mow hay and found a small leak in the radiator. Close inspection showed the radiator was in bad shape and would need replaced, figured we try some stop leak to see if we could get through first cutting. We made it though the whole year and are using it to feed hay to cattle now, BUT it will get a new radiator before hay season begins.
If your radiator has a hole poked in it have it repaired before warm weather arrives and you need the tractor more, if the radiator hasn't been damaged and is just leaking it's probably rotten and needs replaced.
If you need the tractor now a small amount of stop leak won't hurt but between the time bad weather ends and grass cutting begins fix or replace the radiator. A couple hundred for a new radiator is cheap compared to repairing a overheated engine.

This tractor mostly sits in the shed except for spring and fall garden prep, some wood cutting/log pulling and scraping snow when/if it snows. It s not really used for farming and heavy duty work. Best I can tell the leak is coming from the top around the reservoir but only leaks when running. It had ran maybe 5 minutes when I noticed it and I know for a fact that it wasn t over heating. It was a cooler day and I was just letting it run since it hadn t been used and a few weeks. After I shut it down I put a pan under it to catch anymore coolant and it might have dripped 2 tablespoons worth overnight. I should add it s the original radiator from 1966 so I m not opposed to replacing.

 

[Sean in PA]

Are you adding more coolant each time it loses some? If so, how full are you keeping it? It will always puke some out if it is too full.

 

[jc3612]

(quoted from post at 13:15:31 01/03/20) Are you adding more coolant each time it loses some? If so, how full are you keeping it? It will always puke some out if it is too full.

I haven t added any since changing a hose out back in the summer. And it has been ran hard a couple times since then but didn t notice anything out of the ordinary. It was just odd to me that it started dripping when it was cold just being pulled outside the shed.

 

[hurleyjd]

I have used the blue devil products. Not for radiator but crankshaft seals. Seems to work, if I had a radiator leak that is what I would try.

 

[Destroked 450]

Is it leaking in the radiator or where you put the hose on, I've seen it lots of times were a little corrosion on the outlets doesn't let the hose seal good, this usually shows up in cool weather when metal shrinks.
Give the hose clamp another twist before pouring anything into the radiator.
Cold water leaks are a common thing on old semi's.

 

[jc3612]

Best I could tell it was leaking from where the reservoir and radiator come together and had coolant pooling inside the little flange of the reservoir. I haven t thought about checking the hoses now that cold weather is here but I will.