Help! In Trouble on Vacation with Leaking Radiator

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rev500

New member
I would like to know your opinion on using Barsleak to attempt to repair a radiator. I just started a two week vacation pulling our travel trailer to the UP. We are supposed to move to a different park tomorrow and today my 2007 F150 started leaking radiator fluid. It is not the hoses, does not appear to be between the caps and ribs so I think it is somewhere in the middle or bottom of the radiator. Best I can tell with what tools I have. My question is do I take a chance on Barsleak. I have heard good that it can plug the leak but bad that it can plug other things. I am in Sault Saint Marie Michigan and do not know anything about any of the Auto Repair places here. If Barsleak can get me through a couple weeks and then home I can do the repair myself which is what I usually do.

So, do I take a chance on Barsleak or on going to a autoshop that I know nothing about? There is a Ford dealer but my experience with the dealers is that they are twice the cost.
 
lofsfire

lofsfire

Well-known member
I would say no, if you plug up something in the heater core then a few hundred dollar job is a few thousand real quick. I had a list from SledMI.com that was of guys on the board that were willing to help out fellow sleders. but I can't find it now, go figure. But go SledMI anyways, there seems to be more guys from the eastern side of the UP on there. One guy you can look up is LawDog. He is with the Sheriff's Dept. in the Newbarry area. If you still can't find anything stop at the local fire department (it will be hit or miss because most will be volunteer up there) but I would bet they will know someone that is good in the area.

Good Luck.
LOFSFIRE
 
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polarisrider1

New member
I picture you on the side of the road after "mechanic in a can" fails. Find a radiator shop in the Soo using the same device you used to post here. "Pay me now or pay me later".
 
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sledheadprox2

Member
what ever you do don't dump that crap in your radiator, it May plug the hole but afterwards you may need a new heatercore and a new radiator and worst case plug your block. I have heard horrier storys about that stuff (sh*$) pluging up everything and costing thousands of $ to fix. Get it fixed the right way. when your on vac stuf always goes wrong put don't try the fast and easy way to fix it you will get burned.

my two cents good luck!
 
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ezra

Well-known member
cant u stay put call and order a new radiator from a local napa or something cant be more than a day or 2 the local parts dealer will prob deliver it out to your camp site.
 
indy_500

indy_500

Well-known member
Pepper! And watch that temp gauge. I'm with Ezra also radiator easy to replace why not do it at the campsite. Are you sure you didn't overheat your truck pulling the camper and it boiled over?
 
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mikes99ss

Well-known member
Its the middle of summer. Just bring a bunch of water with you and fill as needed. Then deal with it when you get home. You can even fill jugs with the water from your camper as you go.
 
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rev500

New member
Thanks for the quick replies. I talked with local police and they have their own mechanics at the city garage but they did tell me the place that a lot of them get their personal cars fixed so I have the local garage if the dealer quotes a crazy price. I am consdiering doing it myself. It looks like on only two bolts hood the entire radiator in. Has any one replaced the radiator on an 07 F150? It is a 1 inch core. Any thoughts on the best radiator brand to buy? Looks like it would be tight without removing the fan shroud which would involve pulling the fan and special tools. I am going to get by with dumping water in to get the trailer moved to Brimley today but I think the leak may be to big to try a 5 hour trip South. I could be stopping every 50 miles but maybe it is worth it. It is for sure the radiator as I watch the water collecting at the bracket under the radiator when the engine is running. It was leaking with it just sitting there not running but I think the coolant is below the leak location.
 
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rev500

New member
the local shop will put in a new radiator for 440.00. I could probably do it for 200 or a little more but my significant other is not thrilled that I am talking about going and parking somewhere in a parking lot to work on a vehicle. Park rules do not allow you to work on a car at a campsite especially when you are trying to contain radiator fluid. It drives her a little nuts that I do so much car work on my own at home to save money. I tell her the quality of the work is the issue.
 
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Dave_B

Active member
I don't know where you are staying but, in the past, I have had to do some repairs while camping. Most campgrounds have a service garage to work on their stuff. I have found that they were more than willing to let me use their tools and supplies to get the job done.
Either way, I hope you get it fixed. It's not too hot up there so, hopefully you can get it to where you need to go.
Good luck!
 
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ffemt

Member
If you have to like indy said pepper or alumaseal wi t h cap on fully and heat on hot to try and seal. If you have to drive somewhere before ya start release the rad cap have way so no pressure builds up .
 
indy_500

indy_500

Well-known member
If you find an auto parts store maybe they'll have a 7 psi cap or one with low pressure might keep it from leaking as bad too
 
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sledheadprox2

Member
I have had a lot of crap go wrong on vacation trips and i have fixed a lot of things on these trips. But hindsite there was a lot of times i should have just bite the bullet and had a shop fix it. That's what a vacation is for not to worry about it. Just spend the mon n your whole family will love that your trying to do stuff with them n not working on your truck.When you get home you will have a different outlook on what u did.
 
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skeeter2010

Member
I would recommend taking it in and having it fixed not trying to do it your self just incase you have problems then you are really stuck.
I have used stop leak, I have a dodge with a V10 and they have head issues. I bet before replacing the heads I put 3-5 cans of the stuff in over the years it didnt fix the problem with my truck because the crack was on the top of the head in the water jacket really strange. Long story long I ended up replaceing the heads and the radiatior at the same time because the fins stated falling out. The tried to use the drain valve but it was clogged most likely from all the stop leak. However I had no problems with the heater core. One can wont hurt it, its not that proper repair but may take care of the problem other option may be to leave the cap loose. I did that for a few months also. Like I said 3-5 cans of the crap over 3-4 years still blows plenty of heat
 
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