How do you all get 6.2s to 300K miles

[nycxjeremyy]

if it doesn't leak much, like mine where I have to top off maybe 1/2 a gallon in about a month's time, you can add some stop leak or just leave it alone and keep a jug or two in the back for when you need it while checking levels every so often. Just remember when winter is coming, do a drain and refill with antifreeze if you are topping off with water throughout the year!

Just be careful with stop leaks. some can clog up the passages in the radiator if not kept full at all times. some also don't work well with coolant and most don't say this on the labels, they only muddy up things and make the coolant look like rusty water from the creek!

So about that.... (and I actually did this on the OG Brass Radiator that came with the K5).. has anyone here heard of the ground pepper Radiator trick?

Thats what burban bro did, he got that knowledge from his father who is also a Squarebody man, they both swear by it.

and yes, it actually did stop the leak on the old brass radiator (to my surprise)

 

[dbrannon79]

during heat cycles the cap will open (cold) and allow coolant to flow in and out of the overflow. the system is designed so that as it cools it goes into a vacuum state, when the cap opens this allows the system to suck in and "refill it's self" from the overflow tank. Most if the time if the leak has been there for a while you will start to see evidence left behind where the coolant has dried leaving discoloration in that area. there is also two rubber gaskets on the cap. one on the center part which seats into the neck of the radiator. the other gasket is on the face or lip that seals to the top of the radiator neck. the caps are a maintenance item that should be replaced every so often, it doesn't take much for them to start leaking.

 

[jrsavoie]

if it doesn't leak much, like mine where I have to top off maybe 1/2 a gallon in about a month's time, you can add some stop leak or just leave it alone and keep a jug or two in the back for when you need it while checking levels every so often. Just remember when winter is coming, do a drain and refill with antifreeze if you are topping off with water throughout the year!

Just be careful with stop leaks. some can clog up the passages in the radiator if not kept full at all times. some also don't work well with coolant and most don't say this on the labels, they only muddy up things and make the coolant look like rusty water from the creek!

Some make solid clogs that have to.bebroved with acid, if you can do it at all

 

[dbrannon79]

So about that.... (and I actually did this on the OG Brass Radiator that came with the K5).. has anyone here heard of the ground pepper Radiator trick?

Thats what burban bro did, he got that knowledge from his father who is also a Squarebody man, they both swear by it.

and yes, it actually did stop the leak on the old brass radiator (to my surprise)

Yup, that is an old farmers trick. and it works. pepper will not clog passages as there isn't any "glue" properties to it. basically it circulates in the system until it is pushed out at wherever the leak is and gets stuck there sealing the leak.

 

[dbrannon79]

I remember when I was in Chicago during the deep freeze of January how it just trickled. Its weird, when it runs hot I see drops, when its cold (just started it cold) sometimes nothing or maybe a drop or two.

what you witnessed is the aluminum contracting opening up the area where the leak is. as it heats back up the metal expands sealing up the leak, until the pressure in the system gets too much and overcomes pushing out at that area. on my 93 I have a coolant leak up against the engine block at the timing cover. the only time it leaks is when it sits over night and cools off. while I'm driving around it doesn't leak! for me, it's not enough of a leak to wager all the work involved in tearing everything down to fix it on top of me not wanting to find more things I need to fix LOL.

 

[nycxjeremyy]

what you witnessed is the aluminum contracting opening up the area where the leak is. as it heats back up the metal expands sealing up the leak, until the pressure in the system gets too much and overcomes pushing out at that area. on my 93 I have a coolant leak up against the engine block at the timing cover. the only time it leaks is when it sits over night and cools off. while I'm driving around it doesn't leak! for me, it's not enough of a leak to wager all the work involved in tearing everything down to fix it on top of me not wanting to find more things I need to fix LOL.

This right here makes the most sense.
Assuming this is what is occuring on my end....should I even both with it? Should I just let it be, at worst, its a few drops (though this seldom happens) alot of the times, its two drops and thats that.

 

[nycxjeremyy]

Yup, that is an old farmers trick. and it works. pepper will not clog passages as there isn't any "glue" properties to it. basically it circulates in the system until it is pushed out at wherever the leak is and gets stuck there sealing the leak.

I actually did add two teaspoons of black pepper in thr aluminum radiator last week, its slowed the leak down, but, its still there (granted, alot slower now), should I try again? Is it even worth it? I still have the can of it (small one)

 

[dbrannon79]

Honestly if it's that little I wouldn't worry about it until it get worse. if anything, get you a replacement cap. I assume your running the cap that came with the radiator from the jungle site. if so, it's most likely a cheap one from china.

 

[nycxjeremyy]

Honestly if it's that little I wouldn't worry about it until it get worse. if anything, get you a replacement cap. I assume your running the cap that came with the radiator from the jungle site. if so, it's most likely a cheap one from china.

New cap for the radiator? Eh sure why not I suppose.

Would me adding more black pepper do anything? Heard it could mess up the water pump, heater core, etc.

 

[dbrannon79]

I actually did add two teaspoons of black pepper in thr aluminum radiator last week, its slowed the leak down, but, its still there (granted, alot slower now), should I try again? Is it even worth it? I still have the can of it (small one)

you can, it won't hurt anything. at least that I'm aware of. one thing to note. when you add the pepper, make sure it doesn't stay collected where the cap seals. that could make the cap start leaking with the granules pushing on the rubber

 

[dbrannon79]

New cap for the radiator? Eh sure why not I suppose.

Would me adding more black pepper do anything? Heard it could mess up the water pump, heater core, etc.

yes too much can clog up things like a heater core, as long as it fine ground, it shouldn't mess with the pump. coarse ground can cause a "sand blasting effect on the pump impeller slowly chewing away at it. It can also get lodged in the pump seals and tear them up too.

btw, didn't you just flush and change to a different type of coolant right before your trip home? that could have loosened the last dose of pepper and flushed most of it out.

 

[DieselAmateur]

I don't know if they make it for coolant systems but there's UV dye for A/C systems to find a leak, if there's a water soluble UV dye that could be a cheap and helpful way to pinpoint exactly where the leak is

 

[dbrannon79]

Yup dye is an option and is cheap. it should be available at most auto parts houses. Just read the label and make sure it's compatible with the coolant your using. in you pic I noticed that it's reddish orange in color. hope it's not the dreaded Dexcool! that stuff can get corrosive and eat aluminum.

Amazon.com

Oh that also reminds me that on aluminum radiators, you need to have an annode installed too. you could be electrically destroying your radiator!

I forget the term it's called, but I know @Will L. has mentioned it before.

 

[dbrannon79]

galvanic corrosion, that is what it's called. I googled "why is an anode needed with aluminum radiator" and got a slew of sites talking about it and how it helps identify problems in a cooling system.

duck duck go search AI gave me this tidbit.

 

[nycxjeremyy]

yes too much can clog up things like a heater core, as long as it fine ground, it shouldn't mess with the pump. coarse ground can cause a "sand blasting effect on the pump impeller slowly chewing away at it. It can also get lodged in the pump seals and tear them up too.

btw, didn't you just flush and change to a different type of coolant right before your trip home? that could have loosened the last dose of pepper and flushed most of it out.

If i recall, this is the one I used, its from Aldi.

And no sir, no flush was made on the cooler since a year ago.

 

[nycxjeremyy]

what you witnessed is the aluminum contracting opening up the area where the leak is. as it heats back up the metal expands sealing up the leak, until the pressure in the system gets too much and overcomes pushing out at that area. on my 93 I have a coolant leak up against the engine block at the timing cover. the only time it leaks is when it sits over night and cools off. while I'm driving around it doesn't leak! for me, it's not enough of a leak to wager all the work involved in tearing everything down to fix it on top of me not wanting to find more things I need to fix LOL.

Whats the best way to add the ground pepper into the radiator then? Been told to leave it running with the cap off for 5 minutes, been also told to let it get up to operating temps (cap off) and then add it in.

 

[dbrannon79]

Whats the best way to add the ground pepper into the radiator then? Been told to leave it running with the cap off for 5 minutes, been also told to let it get up to operating temps (cap off) and then add it in.

That's fine. I was just mentioning that the pepper can clump up and make a mess right where the cap seals. Just to wipe it off if it does so it's not just there and makes it into the coolant to circulate in there.

 

[nycxjeremyy]

If anyone else has input on the ground pepper trick, please do say