MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
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My 1999 Volvo V70 has a leak from the rad, just a bit but enough to warrant topping up every week or so. I've looked under and can see the drips collecting underneath but not were the actual leak is coming from. I'm having to put a new or reconditioned alternator on it so don't want to replace the Rad if I can help it, the internet says Radweld is fine or it'll ruin the car. Car only gets used about 6k annually, mix of motorway and local driving it doesnt cost me much normally (just passed MOT) and want to drive it until it goes off to Asgard.
So, Radweld, yay or neigh?
I've always used it on my older cars but with mixed results (i.e. sometimes it fixes the leak sometimes it doesn't).
It's never ruined them though.
Give it a try.
Neigh.
Replace the rad.
Put some in my 2005 Alfa 156 about 2 years ago and it's done the job perfectly.
However I've no idea what gloop is waiting inside if the rad, thermostat or a hose fails fully and it needs sorting...
For what it's worth, it was my local Alfa specialist who said it was worth trying rather than splashing out on a new rad.
Holts Bars Leaks was always my preferred solution. I wouldn't use it on a modern car though.
Alfa 156 - about five years is the max for the original radiator but you can get new ones for about £60 and fit them in around two hours.
I think it might actually have been the Holts variant I used.
I've been quoted considerably higher than £60 for a rad. Mine's the diesel though so might be a different rad.
used it on a W reg audi a6, worked a treat.
Never mind Rad weld; this is the stuff you want, available at most motor factors... http://www.amazon.co.uk/K-Seal-Permanent-Coolant-Leak-Repair/dp/B002X2S3PW
That's the stuff ^ used that on some old bangers to keep them going, worked a treat.
Girlfriend's sister's car had a soggy footwell from suspected heater matrix leak, bunged a can of standard radweld in and it held a few months at least, long enough to sell it anyway..........
Nice, but I think I'll let sleeping dogs lie for now 🙂 I'll definitely bear that in mind though if it does pack in 🙂
If you look at it its probably just crumbling away. When i changed mine the whole bottom half stayed in the car as I lifted it out!
Poured rad weld into my v70 as a temporary fix. Ran it for the next 4yrs with no problems from the radiator (loads of other things broke, but I couldn't blame that on the rad weld)
K-Seal is spot on, it's definitely better than it's competitors for not blocking up heater matrixes. Follow the instructions and all should be good.
Neigh.Replace the rad.
This. I tried Radweld in an XJ-series Jeep and it caused the water pump to seize.