How Effective Is Stop Leak?

Stop leak is a common additive designed to seal minor leaks in your car’s radiator. Some car manufacturers use stop leaks on new radiators to improve the sealing between new radiator components.

How does Stop Leak work?

Each type of stop leak additive works in a little different way but all give the same results. The components found in it seal the radiators by hardening where the leak is occurring. The heater cores in the cars can suffer leaks just like a radiator, and these heater cores require much intensive labor. The stop leak, whether ceramic, organic or metallic circulates through the radiator and when the system is under pressure, it is forced into the gap in radiator piping. The particles present in the additive bind together creating a temporary seal.

Types of Radiators Stop leaks

The majority of Engine rebuilders UK use the stop leaks with common substances. Each product doesn't need to have all the ingredients. Some products use other ingredients as well. Commonly there are three types of stop leaks.

1. Ceramic fibers
2. Sodium Silicate
3. Aluminum, copper, and iron particles.

Ceramic Fibers

Ceramic fibers use the microsphere nanotechnology approach to create a fibrous patch. These fibers create a semi-permanent seal on the radiator. The seal it creates may not be durable like a new one but can withstand the lushing of coolant and does not break the seal.

Sodium Silicate

It is also known as liquid glass and melts around 221 degrees Fahrenheit. When it circulates the cooling system, reaches the leak and after getting hot enough, it melts and creates a hard seal. As compared to ceramic fibers, sodium silicate forms an extremely hard seal.

Are Stop leak Additives Worth Using?

Once after noticing the leak, your first action is to reach for a product, but you must be wondering that do they work and are they worth using? Well, Stop-leak additives prevent the leaks by reducing the amount of oil that is leaking out of the spaces. Early versions of additives used mechanical methods or used sawdust or tiny metal parts. You must know that these materials are not good for floating around in your engine as they can clog some parts of the engine.

The modern and best quality stop leak additives are absorbed by the seals. These additives expand the seals and then return the seals to their original shape. However, sooner or later, depending on your preference, the leaking seal will need replacement. There is no such evidence that good-quality additives can harm your engine. They can fix the leaks until the time of replacement.

Before using a radiator to stop the leak, first find out how and when to use it and what brand should be effective to use. However, some leaks can not be sealed effectively with the stop leak. In this case, you should get your radiator checked properly by the expert servicer or get it replaced to form a proper seal.

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