slow coolant leak

Russkii · Post by **Russkii** » 09 Oct 2007, 17:31

Hello everybody!

My Volvo 960 (1995) has slow coolant leak. I wanted to use one those "radiator-stop-leaks" available in PepBoys. However, my car does not have radiator cap. Instead it has only coolant reservoir.

Should I just add this "radiator-stop-leaks" solution directly in the coolant reservoir? Will it get clogged or will not go into the system by some other reason?

Thanks.

Post by **sseir39** » 09 Oct 2007, 19:46

IMHO, I would not add a thing. That stuff generally causes more problems. Start looking at hoses, radiator and check on the interior for heater core leaks. Check before doing a thing.

dick

Volgrrr · Post by **Volgrrr** » 09 Oct 2007, 20:12

Russkii wrote:Hello everybody!

My Volvo 960 (1995) has slow coolant leak. I wanted to use one those "radiator-stop-leaks" available in PepBoys. However, my car does not have radiator cap. Instead it has only coolant reservoir.

Should I just add this "radiator-stop-leaks" solution directly in the coolant reservoir? Will it get clogged or will not go into the system by some other reason?

Thanks.

Whoa!!!! Putting that sort of gunk should only done in an act of total desperation.

Spend a bit of time to try and find the source of the leak - it can be tedious, but it is really the only way.

Beg, borrow or steal a pressure pump and put it on the coolant reservoir then pump the pressure up to the vehicles designed coolant pressure when hot (probably somewhere around 13 p.s.i.) and then, while the cooling system is pressurised, thoroughly inspect the radiator and all hoses etc. for any sign of leakage.

It is a good idea to squeeze the hoses also because sometimes the walls of the hoses have internal hairline cracks which can be accentuated and forced to open up by vigourous manipulation.

Also, some people add a dye that is compatible to the coolant into the cooling system that enables a leak easier to discover. (I think there may even be a particular dye that shows up under black light - but not certain though).

Hint: Initially, watch how quickly the cooling system depressurises - this will give you some idea of whether any leak(s) are major or minute.

Good luck!

wojeepster · Post by **wojeepster** » 09 Oct 2007, 21:03

look at the weep hole on the front of the water pump. If you see evidence of leakage replace pump. Do not use stop leak.

Russkii · Post by **Russkii** » 10 Oct 2007, 09:12

Thanks guys!
That made me think.....
To be honest I used "stop-coolant-leak" several times before with my other car - Ford Escort 1991 - and it was fixing the situation permanently.
Looks like Volvo's are much more sensitive. Then I will try locating the leak first.
Thanks again!

wojeepster · Post by **wojeepster** » 11 Oct 2007, 15:40

Stop leak works for a little while but then it fails when you are 253 miles from home, or you don't notice and you cook the engine. Hell at this point I will have a radiator fixed at the local shop....once, the second time it is better to replace rather than fix it every six months.