JB Weld For A Radiator Crack/Leak? YES!! It Does Work!!

For the record, this is NOT a permanent fix and I would never recommend such a thing. But to get you by in a pinch, depending on where your leak has developed, JB Weld will absolutely work to stop the leak for enough time to get the job done right with a new radiator.
I have been using this truck every day in the hottest July on record and so far have experienced no leaks to this point. But it will fail eventually, just want to see how long it will actually hold. When it lets go, I will add an update here to the description.

[@franklinblunt69]

Thanks for this demonstration. Although the Water Weld could prolly be used on the surface but seems the steel weld can hold the coolant. I'm gonna try a botch job too.

[@joevette6290]

Great video bud!! I bought a 70 vette with an aftermarket aluminum radiator but the idiot who installed it left out the bottom rubber insulators between the rad and rad support so eventually the vibration from metal to metal cut a small hole at the bottom but it only leaks when I shut off engine in 80 degree weather so your video has given me hope to fix the small leak without removing the rad!! Thanks bud!!

[@Far2hip]

Thanks Joe V!! I had not seen anyone actually answer the question about if JB Weld would actually work as a solid short term solution up to the time I decided to make the video. After about 6 months when I saw a bit of wheeping, I made the time to actually change the new radiator into the truck. That didn’t take long at all but it was sort of a challenge to see how long it would actually last. I think the most important elements where being able to anchor the soft putty into those crevices to then cure into a rock solid chunk that was buried into an anchor point. Know what I mean?? Not sure how long it would last if there was nothing to hold back the pressure while it was shaking while moving down the road. But it definitely stayed strong as hell all the way until I swapped out that unit!! 👍🏻😎👍🏻

[@jaywalker3553]

Yes it works absolutely 💯

[@volvo8938]

Dude, I got the exact same truck with a leak in the same spot, thanks for the video, i will try it! Thank you

[@Far2hip]

Hey there my friend!! Just want to emphasize the importance of prepping the plastic surface properly and wiping it down with some 97-99% alcohol so it’s nice and clean. Scuff it up as completely as possible before you wipe it down. And as I pointed out in the vid, shive that JBWeld into those little gaps and grooves. They really are effective as anchor points one it fully cures. You’ll be pleasantly surprised how well it actually works. I was pretty shocked how long it lasted like that without a drop coming out. 👍🏻😎👍🏻

[@IbrahimProductions23]

I used JB Weld on my radiator. My advice is dont get the radiator repair, get the high heat. Make sure car has cooled over night and let harden over night. That was my experience.

[@John_doe627]

I have a crack on my radiator but don’t have time or money to fix at the moment, good video I’m going to seal the little crack so that I can work 🙏🏾

[@Far2hip]

That repair lasted for quite a long time. A solid 4-5 months after it was spraying out the front before the fix. I finally proved my point and installed the new radiator that was sitting in the shop all that time. JB Weld works well as a quickie fix if you prep the surface correctly and use those metal clamp down tabs as anchor points. Good luck my friend.

[@Far2hip]

I truly appreciate all the positive feedback and comments since I posted this little video and want to thank you all for that. I’ve had a lot of questions about what I thought was the key element to this having worked for me so well and actually lasting a decent amount of time. My best answer is; I properly prepped the area that I was going to apply the JB weld by thoroughly cleaning each surface of any type of oily grime or dirt, I lightly scuffed each area I was going to apply the JB Weld and removed any dust from doing that prep, and, I intentionally used spots in the design of the radiator structure (little cutouts in the perimeter of the metal framing) as additional anchor points so that I wasn’t only relying on the strength of the static hold of the JB Weld to the plastic body of the radiator. When I covered the holes where the leaks were coming from, I very intentionally built the bulk of the JB Weld into those openings and voids that would help hold the JB Weld down onto the surface with the hole I was covering once the whole thing cured as one solid chunk. It would be just as if I was covering it with a strip of metal and tucking it in under or into any void I could get that strip into or under to hold it down firm, if all that makes sense. In short, I believe my personal success of the application of the JB Weld in this situation comes right down to using a nice solid form of JB Weld, a well cleaned and lightly scuffed up surface for application, and intentionally pushing the JB Weld into a few solid anchor points so it could cure and not allow either pressure or vibrations to cause the bond to shake loose. I truly hope that all helps answer some of the questions you all have had and again, I definitely am aware of this being one of those “hillbilly ingenuity” repairs, lol. But it was never originally meant to be a permanent fix. It was just to get me by. But since it was lasting so long, it was definitely a great way to answer the question of if JB Weld could work for a strong temporary fix. Answer? Yes, in the right scenario it definitely will if you apply it correctly. Thanks again for all your positive comments. SK

[@Highwaytruckers]

Nice video 👍. Good demo

[@mrdrivermechanictv4213]

Nice videos

[@ricardo07serrano96]

I have a leak also I used the water weld first but it still leaked a little so I put jb weld on top of that to hold the heat

[@Far2hip]

I actually tried the water weld first before I removed all of it and made sure I had the more solid version on first. The water weld on its own let go and leaked badly in less than a day. I’m not sure the water weld is designed to hold back much pressure. But it sure is effective on a small transom crack on a boat not letting water in!! Know that by experience. Once I put the two part 3100psi onto the correctly prepped surface and made sure it was punched into as many anchor holes as possible, that was definitely the right order. I only put the water weld on the outside as a “just in case it leaked” extra measure. Based on how long this actually lasted (well over 3 months), I believe the only way to go is to properly prep the surface and use one of the two part JB Weld products I showed in the video as the first layer for sure. 😎😎😎

[@jeffgood6441]

Prob woulda held up if u used the Marine weld expoxy

[@shredbacca]

how long did this last? i got a leak in basically the same area on my 01 dakota and i cant get a radiator anytime soon

[@Far2hip]

After I applied the JBWeld it was a good 5-6 months before it leaked again and I use that truck every day to and from work. But you need to remember to get it into as many of the little cracks and crevices possible in that area as well as scuff it up pretty good. I am quite sure the reason it lasted that long was because I really focused on prepping the surface properly. After scuffing it up I also cleaned it with 99% isopropyl alcohol so it was clear of any contaminants. Good luck if you try it. Hope this helps!! 😎

[@fakechecknumber1198]

I have a 2002 5.3 gm radiator has cracks the only thing i didn't do was prepping the surfaces JB WELD TO THE RESCUE AGAIN!!@PREPTHISHITAGAIN4SUCESS/NOTWANTINGTOBUYANEWRADIATOR.