BG Cooling System Sealer Coolant Smell

[landtoy80]

I have a occasional smell of coolant in the car. I assume its from the heater core or a hose to it.
There is no coolant on the floor and the coolant loss is just a several onces for over a month.
I see there is a hose under the hood that has or is seeping as there is red coolant crusted on the hose at the fitting. Could this be what is happing in the car?

BG has a Universal Cooling System Sealer.
BG Universal Cooling System Sealer is composed of refined organic fibers, rust and corrosion inhibitors, a buffering agent and anti-foaming ingredients. It stops head gasket seepage and seals small leaks in the radiator and heater cores. The rust and scale inhibitors help provide better heat transfer properties. It is compatible with all types of coolants and harmless to all metal or rubber parts.

Is this stuff safe to put in the rad? Should I use it or should I just dig into the dash and find the leak?

 

[iamshawn]

i wouldn't use any kind of sealer to fix a coolant leak.. we have many people coming to the shop saying their engine is over heating... first thing i asked them is did you put those stop leak stuff in your radiator ? most of them says yes. those things will clog up your block, head, thermostat, and the line in the overflow reservoir. get those lil cooling system testor (the ones that you replace the radiator cap with and has a pump to check for compression and see where it is leaking from. Do it right don't expect any miracle product to work. ^___~

 

[Kckazdude]

As iamshawn has alluded, the snake oils and mystery dust in parts stores are never a good solution to a solid repair. These products were meant as a temporary fix to get you out of a bind not a permanent fix. Replace the hose/heater core now or replace more later. Your choice.

 

[IJ.]

I had a seeping heater core a few months back it's a PITA to repair but worth doing it right once it's out.

Mine wasn't wetting the Carpet it was just the occasional smell like you describe.

 

[landtoy80]

You really have to pull the complete dash apart that far to remove the heater core???

 

[IJ.]

Yep as I said it's a PITA

Toyota had a Heater core on a stand on the assembly line then built the rest of the car around it.