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That guy at the auto parts store said stop using stop-leak in my radiator
He told me it would clog my heater core in 3 months, and sure enough my defroster stopped working yesterday on the way to work in Minneapolis. Anyone else had a parts guy save or wreck their car with advice like that?
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nelson.wren4d ago
Minneapolis winters are no joke without a defroster, I remember that much from living in the Cities for a few years. @evan_davis is right about flushing, but did the parts guy mention how much that flush actually costs at a shop, or did you just drain and refill it yourself?
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evan_davis4d ago
No, the parts guy probably saved you money and a headache. Stop-leak is a band-aid fix that settles in the lowest points of your cooling system, which includes the heater core. Once it clogs that tiny radiator, you lose heat and defrosting power. The real fix is finding the actual leak, maybe a hose clamp or a bad gasket, and replacing the part. Mine did the same thing on an old Tacoma, and I spent way more flushing the heater core than I would have just fixing the small leak upfront. So yeah, trust that guy next time he warns you about something.
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charles_coleman4d ago
Always thought stop-leak was a quick fix that worked fine, but you just convinced me otherwise with the heater core thing. I never connected it to losing defrost in winter, that's a big deal for me since I drive a lot in snow. Gonna bite the bullet and find the real leak from now on.
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