Sealing a Car Heater Matrix. Any Ideas Please

[savageseadog]

My heater matrix has a leak. I tried sealing it with Kseal which is a copper based (I think) rad sealer but it didn't work and I ended up by-passing it. As it's a big job has anyone any ideas on what substance I could put in, perhaps into the matrix on its own? Would Captain Tolleys work?

 

[ProDave]

Have you tried Radweld?

Until recently, I thought of such things as a bodge and never used them.

But my wifes car had a water leak. It was where a plastic pipe connector fitting flange mounted onto the engine block. The gasket or whatever seals the flange to the block was leaking. Looking at the two studs that held it to the block and how rusty they were, I didn't fancy the chances of removing them to repair the leak properly without them shearing, making it a very complicated and expensive repair.

So out of desparation, I tried radweld and it completely fixed the leak instantly.

 

[VicS]

Yes Radweld
Bar's Leaks possibly better or Radweld Plus

I put a leak sealer in my car cooling system as a matter of course.

BUT if K Seal was not effective it is possible that none of these additives is going to work either.

 

[steve28]

i used a silver based one from ebay, worked well but took an hour to stop. been fine ever since

 

[2Tizwoz]

Ce-lit has been used for at least fifty years.

Contains crushed linseeds apparently. Works well and permanently.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ce-Lit-Radiat..._Body_Shop_Supplies_Paint&hash=item588a59a62f 99p plus 60p postage.

 

[wiggy]

If one bottle of rad weld does not work stick in two together. My rad had an awful leak, chucked in two bottles, did me fine for 3 years.

 

[bikedaft]

as above try again.

can you change it without dash off?

also if it has air con, then leak (with corrosive antifreeze) may be going over the a/c heat exchanger which is usually right in beside heater matrix.

mine has gone too (a6) apparently i don't need to take the dash off unlike the last car i had that did it... hope yours is easier too.

bypass is cold at this time of year. i drove the last one around for a year like that

 

[pampas]

if its a small leak Barrs fluid will do the trick. From most motor factors, used two bottles for a domestic radiator system to seal leaky rad seals, not leaked since 1988.

 

[Cornishmuttley]

leak

If it is only a small leak and you need an emergency quick fix - break a raw egg into the rad. The egg white seals the holes and is cooked into place, otherwise radweld always worked for me.

 

[njthake]

radiator adhesives

Your leak could be the old common trouble of the incompatible antifreeze/inhibiter breaking down the adhesive between the plastic end cap and the aluminium mattrix. Manufacturers, especially Peugeot changed the spec of antifreeze to stop this.
The only advice I can give is that if you manage to seal it ok use the correct antifreeze afterwords otherwise the rest of the glue will gradually give way.
I would recommend that you seal it with only clean water in the system, then inhibit it once the leak stops.
Sorry I can't help with the correct spec antifreeze, you will have to ask a knowlegable agent.

 

[dingdongs]

jb weld off ebay

 

[Alfie168]

If it is only a small leak and you need an emergency quick fix - break a raw egg into the rad. The egg white seals the holes and is cooked into place, otherwise radweld always worked for me.

I've never known the egg trick to work on a modern car. If you want the professional stuff then go to a plumbers merchant and get a tube of Fernox leak sealant that we use on heating systems with leaks on pipes that are inaccessible ( e.g.buried in concrete)

It doesn't always work, but it works a lot of the time and I believe is a better quality product than little tins of stuff sold in Halfords or somewhere.

Tim

 

[Avocet]

I'd be wary of the "egg trick" on a modern car. The pasages in the cooling system are smalller, the workign pressures are higher and the flow rates greater than on older engines. In the same way as you can't use an old pair of tights as a fan belt any more, I'd be dubious of the efficacy of an egg in a modern cooling system - ad you might even block something if you're unlucky!

Also curious about the idea of adhesive breaking down on a heater matrix. All the ones I've ever seen have had their end tanks cripmed on to the core - usually with an o-ring seal between the two.

 

[Ubergeekian]

My heater matrix has a leak. I tried sealing it with Kseal which is a copper based (I think) rad sealer but it didn't work and I ended up by-passing it. As it's a big job has anyone any ideas on what substance I could put in, perhaps into the matrix on its own?

I really wouldn't try anything, except in extremis or, if you have elastic morals, the day before you sell the car. All these sealers are bodges and all of them can cause all sorts of nasty problems. Unfortunately most cars are built around a heater matrix suspended from the factors roof by a piece of string, so replacing them is usually a complete sod, but you may as well just bite the bullet and get cracking.