How bad a bodge is this?

Mon Jan 05, 2009 4:19 pm

Folks,
my car is leaking a few drips of coolant into the passenger footwell every trip. I really can't face ripping out the heater matrix/valve in freezing conditions in the street. My local spanner god also helpfully pointed out that a gentleman of my, errr, generous proportions would have a pretty tough time getting in the right area even in a warm dry garage...
So he suggested this which would seem to be a perfectly good stopgap until summer/I lose weight/I take it to a garage.

What do you think?

Mon Jan 05, 2009 4:23 pm

What would be?

Mon Jan 05, 2009 4:23 pm

Ah, didn't notice the "this"

Mon Jan 05, 2009 4:24 pm

sorry, edited it for clarity

Mon Jan 05, 2009 4:24 pm

Radweld? Sometimes works.

Mon Jan 05, 2009 4:25 pm

Well, apparently its a better version...but yeah - that sort of thing.

Mon Jan 05, 2009 4:30 pm

IMHO

WYNNS = bodge

Mon Jan 05, 2009 4:31 pm

depends where its leaking from (plastic or metal)
if its metal (matrix) go for it!

Mon Jan 05, 2009 4:45 pm

lol pour it in, it will stop your leak. then clog your radiator and smaller pipework. then overheat. then think "damn, its buggered good and proper now" magic potions in bottles never work. so dont bother with it...

Mon Jan 05, 2009 4:49 pm

It's worth a try in my experience. So long as you dont put too much in to cause a blockage, it does no harm. Even Jaguar used to recommend Radweld as a preventative measure whenever you changed the coolant!

Mon Jan 05, 2009 4:51 pm

had a rad leak on my 320i years ago,poured rad weld in and it fixed the leak,
drained the coolant and refilled and the leak stayed repaired!
as badassyas said it can clog your system,hence why i drained it,
they say to leave it in the system but i wouldnt advise it.
do you know where the actual leak is?

Mon Jan 05, 2009 4:54 pm

Did people not use to do this with a raw egg back in the days

Mon Jan 05, 2009 4:54 pm

Definitely do it for a heater matrix. Very likely that anybody who tells you not to do it has never had to change one of the fu*kers

Wynns have been selling similar stuff for decades in the states, if it bolloxed engines somebody would have them in court before now.

Mon Jan 05, 2009 5:00 pm

gooner1 wrote:Did people not use to do this with a raw egg back in the days

my mate tried this one on his escort,lasted about an hour

Mon Jan 05, 2009 5:05 pm

leeparkes wrote:
gooner1 wrote:Did people not use to do this with a raw egg back in the days
my mate tried this one on his escort,lasted about an hour

Half a dozen and it would of outlasted the car then.

Mon Jan 05, 2009 5:15 pm

Changing the heater valve isn't a horrendous job honestly

Mon Jan 05, 2009 5:23 pm

Simon13 wrote:Changing the heater valve isn't a horrendous job honestly

this is why i asked if he knew where it was leaking,
as simon says its not that hard,just a bit of a pain to get to
take a hour max!