Edible? Radiator Repair

If you ever get a hole in your radiator too big for black pepper or Barrs Leak, try cutting a wedge of potato with the tip able to fit into the hole. Jam it in & hold it lightly while running & slowly refilling your radiator. Gently push it in a bit further once you're up to operating temp. The potato will swell with the hot water and seal the leak. I've patched holes as big as a pencil eraser like this.
One patch lasted almost 6 months before the potato either rotted or was eaten by bugs.
It's prudent to just use this repair until you can get the damaged core brazed.


gj

 

Thanks thats a good tip.

 

On Myth busters they dropped a raw egg in the radiator and I'll be danged it actually worked...

BUBBA

 

Barrs Leaks is OK but is organic, so it stinks, and can clog cooling passages. I switched over to Alumaseal for emergency "plug-up" years ago, when I was working on a Nascar team. We put in a tube of the stuff before every race. For sealng when you are REALLY desparate, a handful of uncooked rice dumped into the radiator will seal all but the biggest leaks. The only downside to this trick is that the smell of cooking rice will make you hungry as you are limping your way back to camp.

 

Toilet paper works too in a pinch, but will need to be flushed (no pun intended) later.

Good tip on the potato !

Jim

 

Thanks.

I'll tell you one thing that is organic but seems to last forever, the "Polly Noses" from a Maple tree. Definitely watch them around your radiator!

Late one night, about 20 yrs. ago, I overheated & my shotgun man must have scooped a puddle of water that was under a maple tree.
I still have the triple core Modine and those polly noses are still in there. Guess I'll have to rod them out, as acid doesn't even touch them. At least they haven't sprouted.

gj

 

I've actually heard the potato trick before but one thing I noticed is it sure does make the potatos taste funny!

 

What the devil is a "Polly Nose"? Only things I've seen laying around maple trees are those spinning "helicopter" seeds (Same thing? - or is this some kind of east coast sap/syrup kind of thing?).

 

You got it. It's a NYC immigrant thing. Little kids used to split the "helicopter" seed pod & pinch the sides over their noses, hence Polly Noses.

gj

ps: I love the taste of antifreeze, Castrol 20-50, burnt clutch, rubber, & swamp mud in the morning - It tastes like Victory!
(Once did a shot of Harley Davidson semi synthetic transmission lube to compare vegetable oil content w/Castrol).

 

black pepper works as well for small leaks.

 

Uh, WHY?!

 

Mayhaps they got tired of playing with helicopters. NYUKK NYUKK.

Please, I have a whole library of "When i was a kid, i was so poor that...
a. "we couldn't afford toys, so.........."
b. "i played hooky for 40 days straight & helped the National Air Guard for a dime a day." May my Father RIP)

My paternal grandfather was a shepherd in Italy & actually went to war on both sides in WWI.
My maternal grandfather was part Iroquois & in demolition & had 14 children, 12 survivors.

Needless to say, I was raised well but frugally. I learned many ways to occupy my time with what I had. I'm thankful that it built my imagination.

gj

 

Oh gosh I forgot about doing that. LOL

Why? why do kids make a whistle out of a blade of grass?

 

...or POP a leaf, or make a whistle from an acorn..........?

Have you ever heard of a Gooba Gooba? It's like pulling your straw up & down through a plastic lid in a fast food cup - originally made from a tin can, scrap leather & a stick. You can vary the pitch by pressing on the lid.

Nowadays if it doesn't involve Sega, Nintendo, or TV kids are lost.



gj

 

Yeah Ive done the potato trick , taking notes on the others though. Ive used a rope for a alt belt and pantyhose works to , you just got to have a source for them lol

 

I've heard that you can use a horse turd as well. Never actually tried it though.

Don

 

new or aged?....probably harder to get a hold of(if it's fresh R) )for city dwellers also. Go to your local FLAPS.....
Yes sir could we help you?...
Got any horse turds?....
Yes sir...you want aged or fresh?

<maybe should have started another thread....not sure it belongs under EDIBLE RADIATOR REPAIR .... >

 

Well, I wouldn't exactly call a bar of soap 'edible' either, although I guess both would be *if* you were hungry enough!

 

I guess your right...Your suggestion might be edible also *if* you were hungry enough I guess I wasn't looking at all possibilities. My bad.

 

Maybe not 'edible' for humans, but I know catfish will take it for bait. Come to think of it, compared with some foods, like tofu or quiche for instance, soap sounds more and more edible to me!