Most motorists at least once, but faced with the problem of the current radiator. Car owners will agree that a coolant leak is an unpleasant situation. A popular remedy for this trouble is sealant for the car radiator. Reviews about these tools are different, as are the tools themselves. Therefore, you should find out which drug is worth using.
What is this remedy?
This is a special mixture that has unique properties for eliminating small cracks and various holes in the radiator and in the cooling system. The composition resembles a pasty or viscous composition. It can be based on oligomers or various polymers.
A sealing layer is formed at the connecting seams.
This may occur as a result of the vulcanization of the polymer base or due to the evaporation of solvents. In addition, they distinguish mixtures where no changes occur. For different situations, a different radiator sealant is suitable. Reviews and types of tools - further in our article.
Powder compositions for the radiator
So, the very first is a composition in the form of a powder. How to use it? Very simple. The powder is poured directly into the radiator, and the indications for use are even a slight leak. Car owners with experience do not use new-fangled little things, but prefer the old grandfather method - this is mustard, naturally, dry, in powder. In addition, cigarette tobacco is also suitable. There is a more exotic option in nature to eliminate leaks.
Among the advantages of dry preparations are wide availability, low cost, compared with any other products of this purpose existing on the market.
The downside is the small depth of defects that such a sealant for a car radiator can eliminate.
Reviews of experienced motorists indicate that a dry sealant will cope with a crack up to 1 mm. The second minus - not only problem areas are sealed, or rather even clogged, but also any channels directly in the heating system.
Liquid mixtures
This is the second type of drug. At the heart are various polymeric substances with a minimum proportion of metals. The main function of these compounds is to eliminate leaks in the motor unit, and also only partially eliminate problems in the radiator cavity.
Polymers, as can be seen from their properties and characteristics, cling to bumps and sharp edges. Defective elements are enveloped, as it were. The main advantage of using these sealants is that the substance is constantly in the coolant. If it is necessary to remove, then simply drain the coolant and liquid sealant for the radiator will leak along with it. Reviews of experienced say that such compositions are not much different from dry ones and are not able to cope with large holes.
New drugs based on polymer fibers
Special fibers are the basis of these materials for the "treatment" of radiators. They affect the adhesion of the particles of the drug between the surfaces of the crack, as well as between themselves. Car enthusiasts have already managed to love the polymer sealant for the car radiator. Reviews about it speak for themselves - the substance patches a hole in just a few minutes, and the size of the "wound" can reach two or more millimeters.
How to use: instruction manual
Many when using these formulations make one mistake. This happens because of ignorance of the main functional component. But the function of sealants is very, very simple - to completely reduce coolant leaks during temporary use. Unfortunately, it will not work forever to use a radiator sealant. Reviews of motorists agree that on the action of the drug you can only get to the nearest service.
The operation may look as follows - the driver pours the contents of the tube or bottle into the radiator, and then, after the car drove into the garage or into the parking lot, it is necessary to immediately drain the coolant and thoroughly flush the system.
Next, repair the radiator.
Sealant Recommendations
So, if it was possible to diagnose a radiator leak, and this can be both during movement and during parking, it is necessary to turn off the engine and allow the coolant to cool sufficiently. Then it is recommended to inspect the part for damage. For draining the liquid, it is better to put any suitable container under the radiator.
Do not open the radiator cap when the antifreeze has not cooled yet. This can cause serious burns.
If the driver has any kind of sealant, then it should immediately be poured or put into the system according to the instructions. Then after a few minutes you can start the engine again. Next, the serviceability is checked and after nothing flows anywhere else, you can begin to move.
Possible problems when using
If a poor-quality or fake sealant for the Hi-Gear radiator was purchased (reviews of those who use it indicate the presence of fakes on the market), then in addition to leakage, you can get another not very pleasant "bonus". The drug can clog thin channels in the radiator. The operation of the cooling system will be disrupted, which will then lead to overheating, overloads or, ultimately, to engine failure.
In addition, the radiator of the cabin stove will surely clog. The heat will either cease to flow into the cabin at all, or the stove will work with very low efficiency. The pump may also fail. And often the thermostat breaks. This will completely disrupt the operation of the power unit.
But all of the above can only be due to carelessness. Therefore, choosing a drug, it is necessary to inspect it for counterfeit goods or get competent advice from the seller.
Market Review
The modern automotive chemistry market offers many different tubes and bottles. Each manufacturer in advertising to the product convinces - it is necessary to purchase this, because in this tool the maximum efficiency. Today, several brands are popular. It would be nice to find out whether this or that sealant is really effective for a car radiator. Reviews will help in this difficult matter.
Not the worst, but not luxury: Hi-Gear
This is a fairly popular drug in the domestic market. If you believe the data on the package, it is made in the United States. Its cost is about 200 p. This is a blue-green thick mixture. The manufacturer recommends using the composition not just for repair, but for complex and serious repair work on automotive radiators. The active substance is polymeric. It can eliminate even serious holes. But, as the tests of independent experts show, this takes a lot of time.
If the hole is more than 1 mm, then there is no need to make plans that the repair will take a couple of minutes. Often, through such a hole, antifreeze will go away before the drug takes effect. For reliability, it is better to carry two cans at once. When working, you should prepare for all sorts of consequences, such as a clogged drain hole or a radiator plug. What do motorists who use sealant for Hi-Gear radiator say? The reviews are different and are divided into two categories - negative and positive.
After use, the car owners had to change the thermostat and sensors, the pump and other parts of the cooling system. Others claim that they traveled with this sealant for about 2 years and are satisfied with the result.
Abro
All products of this American brand are positioned as professional. Powder and ABRO radiator liquid sealant are available. The reviews are positive, it really works and is fast enough. The main thing is to strictly follow the manufacturer's instructions in everything. But after use, you need to pour it out of the system and rinse everything thoroughly - the channels in the CO are clogged.
There is also a dry powder sealant of the ABRO radiator among the auto chemical goods of this brand. Reviews about him are the same. However, the tool should also be removed, otherwise the channels will clog. Advantages - speed of work, elimination of leaks up to 2 liters per minute, affordable price.
Mannol
This is another drug from a German manufacturer. According to the manufacturer, the substances will begin to work 10 minutes after the power unit has warmed up to operating temperatures. The manufacturer does not talk about any unique properties of this product. It is a medium-sized sealant for a car radiator. Reviews "Manol" collects neutral. They say that a liquid drug is much better than analogues from famous brands. The tool does not clog the canals and there are no deposits after it.
Liqui moly
There is not much point in talking about this brand. This is a well-known German manufacturer of lubricants.
But not only those. For a long time and successfully produced all automotive chemistry. Many positions are used not only by ordinary motorists, but also by professionals.
The first product is Kuher Dichter. In inexpensive means, manufacturers may well palm off a mustard to a gullible buyer, but not here. This drug, according to the manufacturer, has absolutely no drawbacks and does not change the properties of antifreeze.
The product is a liquid with metallic “sparkles”. They move along the cooling system, without settling on the inner walls and other elements until they find damage. This drug does not clog the channels, can enter the most inaccessible places, does not interfere with the operation of the pump, thermostat, sensors.
Liqui Moly Radiator Sealant: Reviews
As expected, motorists do not make a discount on the brand. Yes, this product works, but experienced drivers prefer an iron radiator repair. No matter how the manufacturer says, but still the channels get clogged. German fluid only works for microcracks with warm or even hot antifreeze. The price is not very affordable (about 1000 rubles against 500 for analogues of other manufacturers), it acts worse than the sealant for the Manol radiator, reviews of which indicate better results.
The best of the best
So what to choose? All experts unanimously reiterate that it is worth giving preference to BBF products. This is not an import brand, but a domestic one. This is real efficiency. After a few minutes, cracks up to 0.5 millimeters in size close tightly.
This composition also eliminates hard cracks - it takes up to three minutes. Another advantage is the affordable cost. What do they say about the sealant for the car radiator reviews? "Lada Kalina" (namely, this product was tested on this machine) was able to drive about 500 kilometers with a broken radiator.
Flushing after sealant
System channels tend to clog after using these tools. And then the question arises of how to flush the radiator? For this, special rinses are sold.
So, you can purchase "Reagent 3000". It should be poured into the old liquid, and after 150 hours it will completely clean the cooling system. Another similar product is offered by Hi-Gear. The manufacturer assures that after 7 minutes this mixture will wash everything. Step-up is a sulfate-based preparation diluted with water.
Folk remedies for washing
If it is not possible to purchase factory washing, improvised means can be used. Previously, when there were no auto chemical goods, vinegar, serum and citric acid were used.
When using vinegar, you need a solution from the ratio of 0.5 l of vinegar to 10 l. water. The old liquid is drained, and in its place a solution of vinegar and water is poured. Then the engine is started, brought to operating temperatures, turned off and left for 8 hours. After draining the solution, the radiator and cooling system should be washed with distilled water and antifreeze can be added. If the sealant clogs the system very badly, then you may have to clean it mechanically or fill in clean vinegar.
If you use citric acid, then you should take 100 g of powder.
With this mixture you need to ride for about six days. Then the liquid is drained, and the remaining water and citric acid are washed off with distilled water.
You can also apply serum. First of all, the product should be filtered to remove sediment. To clean the system using this tool you need to drive no more than 1.5 thousand kilometers. Temperature and degree of contamination should be controlled. After cleaning, the entire system is also rinsed with distilled water.
As for factory flushing, judging by the reviews, they clog the system no worse than any sealant. Therefore, it is not worth getting carried away with them.
Sealant or repair?
Do not think that a good remedy is a panacea for leaks. Not at all. If damage is formed, then sealing products - the opportunity to get to a car service. This is true even if good sealant is used for the car radiator. Reviews ABRO and other manufacturers have good, but their products have a temporary effect.
You should not drive with a sealant constantly - the result will lead to serious breakdowns in the car. Remember that these funds are designed only for a short distance - to get to the nearest service station.
Also, acquiring any auto chemical goods, it is worth making sure that the product is original. Now you can buy very high-quality fakes, which can lead to unpleasant consequences, although the packaging can not be distinguished from the original.
So, we found out what is a sealant for a car radiator and what tool is best to choose.