To Radweld or not?

[DNS]

As I said here a few days ago, my radiator has sprung a leak along the seam between the metal and plastic components on the offside. It is now currently empty as everything has escaped from the crack.

I have 2 options:

1. Pay the local garage £100 to fit the new part (arriving mail order)

2. Do a temporary fix, so I can get my car to my girlfriends house in Hull (200 miles away) where there is a big garage.

I've heard mixed reactions about the use of Rad-weld... I know it's not a long term solution, but could anyone recommend it for getting the car to her garge to repair?

Can it do any permanent damage to the system, if I was to use it for the 200 mile drive and then flush it out asap?

[benny]

no no no no no no no no no no no

[Keithy]

i would just take extra water and keep an eye on it if its a small leak, until you get a new radiator

[Handyandy-UK]

Can't be that hard to swap the radiator yourself (assuming you have a decent toolbox)... why pay someone to do it for you ?

Or if the crack is just a small one, seal it from the outside with two part epoxy asap rather than risk clogging up the internals of the cooling system with something like RadWeld. Then swap the radiator when you get it.

[DNS]

I've got no problem with doing the work myself, my only problem is the snow, rain and cold!

Very reluctant to pay the garage to do the work, but just worried that my car won't make it all the way to Hull!

[Ste]

I put rad weld in my car to cure a small leak. It worked and that was about a year ago at least.

At to causing damage to anything else - non noted. Cooling system is working fine.


I'd like to know why some people are so against it's use - with proof, not just non-verifiable opinion due to some irrational dislike of the stuff.

[Big Dave]

I put rad weld in my car to cure a small leak. .

I have used radweld in numerous cars. Never had an issue with it.

If there was a problem in using it, then Holts wouldn't be allowed to sell it, or they'd be out of business with the amount of people suing them.

[Gr4eme]

google a product called steel seal that could do the job for you..

[the-wizard]

rad weld would be my LAST resort!!!, you have a 04 rg 1.8, do as you will, but for £100 is it worth putting this emergency quick fix remedy into your engine ??, i put it into a works van i borrowed for a local removal job when i got caught out 200 miles from home and it made a right mess, i wouldn't use it again unless i was desperate, i also wouldn't tell porkies when lending a works van again!!, got away with it though.(ps the van died a week later).

[Ademusic]

I used radweld when I had a small split in the rad on my old cavalier a few years back....it didn't do a thing to stop it leaking. Didn't seem to do any damage or anything though, but as the-wizard says, isn't worth just spending £100 on getting it sorted? A quick fix isn't the answer and you'll have to spend out on a new rad anyway. If I was going on a long journey, I'd want it fixed properly...