Hi folks,
am trying to help a couple of english girls staying with us in NZ. They bought a 2001 diesel Freelander here and have found it has a small leak in the radiator. A quote from the local thief for NZ$1300 for a new fitted radiator has them looking at radweld (we call it Bars Leaks down here). Looking at the radiator header tank and cooling hoses, i cannot work out if we can add the bars leaks directly to the header tank or if we need to get it somehow into the block where it can circulate. I guess my question really is "does the plastic header tank form part of the circulation system (i.e. does it have a small continuous flow of coolant through it in which case i expect we can add the Radweld knowing that it will circulate), or is the header tank purely a more or less static tank in which case if we add Radweld, it may take quite some time for it to find its way into the radiator". Many thanks in advance for a knowledgable response.

If the leak isn't a "spurting geyser" (please note the correct spelling and do not confuse it with the other chap)..... I know it is frowned upon as a stop-gap rather than a proper fix but I like Bar's-Leaks and have always found it to be really good.
If the system has lost enough water that the header tank needs a good top-up I would just chuck the well-shaken contents of a tin of bar's-leaks in the header tank and top it up.
The stuff will find its way round to the weeping leak and I have always found it does a proper job of saving the day. Have a second can in reserve....but you probably will not need it.

Let the insults and "telling-off" begin

I've used the same stuff from numerous manufacturers, Rad-Weld, Bars Leaks, K-Seal, they all work in a very similar way. In all cases, it's gone into the system through the same hole the top-up goes, which means into the expansion tank these days.
One important thing to remember with any of this type of stuff is to use the minimum amount to effect the repair, over-use risks blocking other waterways in the engine, heater matrix or radiator.

brian47 said:

I've used the same stuff from numerous manufacturers, Rad-Weld, Bars Leaks, K-Seal, they all work in a very similar way. In all cases, it's gone into the system through the same hole the top-up goes, which means into the expansion tank these days.
One important thing to remember with any of this type of stuff is to use the minimum amount to effect the repair, over-use risks blocking other waterways in the engine, heater matrix or radiator.

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I've used K-seal to good effect on several engines now with absolutely no adverse effects with regards blockages of heater matrix's, galleries etc,. Amazon.co.uk:Customer reviews: K-Seal K3501 Head Gasket Repair I posted the HG repair as in a Freelander it is probably worth sticking that in there

Step 1 : Pour rad**** on the ground.
Step 2 : fix the leak properly.

dieseldog69 said:

I've used K-seal to good effect on several engines now with absolutely no adverse effects with regards blockages of heater matrix's, galleries etc,. Amazon.co.uk:Customer reviews: K-Seal K3501 Head Gasket Repair I posted the HG repair as in a Freelander it is probably worth sticking that in there

Click to expand...

You're lucky, but the next owner would be cursing the stuff. It's a well known fact that K Seal can block heater matrix virtually solid. The stuff has no business being in a cooling system, except maybe to get the vehicle home. It then needs repairing correctly and the sealer crap needs flushing out.

Reminds me when I had a leak on holiday put a egg in it got us home that's when eggs where cheap