[Mk2] [Turbo] Quicky... Is it safe to use Radweld or similar products?

[CardHore]

Guys as above,

Car has been sat a while and deleoped a leak from the top of the rad, its coming from the fins. Is it wise to use RADWELD,? Will it damage the engine or turbo? If its OK ill pop to halfords and use it while im on the look out for another rad, also if OK to use will it be OK long term in terms of not damaging the coolants properties.

Ta

[Si_Crewe]

I always think of Radweld as an emergency response item (kinda like those tyre sealant spray doodads) rather than a proper repair.

Thing is, back in the days of Morris Marinas and Mk2 Escorts, engines weren't as well designed so it probably wouldn't matter if the cooling system lost a couple of percent performance or you ended up with odd bits of stuff congealed in the system anywhere.

These days I'd be a bit worried that you'd barely have finished patting yourself on the back for curing the leak and you'd start to see odd little hiccups like the temperature going up or down suddenly and the heater throwing a bit of a wobbly.

It might be fine but the MR2 has quite a convoluted coolant system and you might be causing yourself more headaches for the future if you use radweld and then you start to notice odd things happening in future.

Me, I have a bottle of it in my spares kit along with jump leads, alternator belt, bulbs and a can of tyre-weld etc.
I'd use it if I was stuck somewhere but I don't think I'd use it as a planned repair.

[black gts]

hi mate NEVER USE radweld . iv had a few cars in with coolant problems and owners that will not tell you the truth.
its not until you remove pipes /rad/water pump that you see the damage that stuff dose , ie, it hardens in the low points of pipe work and needs scrapped out.
worst one i have done needed a new rad, heater matrix /thermostat and new pipes to the rear heater(vw sharan)
please dont use

[Mr2_NA]

Say no to radweld Buy a new rad.

It's not the biggest of jobs but easily DIY-able if your happy getting moist and dirty.

Have a google of how to replace MR2 Radiator, there should be hundreds of topics covering it.

and....

"Thing is, back in the days of Morris Marinas and Mk2 Escorts, engines weren't as well designed so it probably wouldn't matter if the cooling system lost a couple of percent performance or you ended up with odd bits of stuff congealed in the system anywhere. "

That is spot on Si, used it on the old escorts and fiesta's but wouldn't put it in anything new'ish performence related.

[Hou]

once bought a ZX for £50 quid as an inbetween car, the heater system was full of the stuff, had to get a high pressure hose down it to unblock it! (because driving with ice on the inside of the car is silly!)

[kingsley]

I once put radweld into an old car I had years ago and it blocked the heater matrix so from that day on the heater would only blow out cold air. I'd never use it again.

Cheers,
Kingsley.