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**Sodium Silicate**

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Merlin

10-11-1999 14:17:46




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Has anyone heard of using Sodium Silicate in the radiator to stop a leak on a block or head? An old man told me that he once sold used cars and sometimes in the winter a block or two would burst or if one of the heads cracked, he would put a couple of pints in the radiator and never think about it again. He said everybody did it. He also said the next time it froze, it may burst somewhere else, but not in the original crack. He said he used it on "a many a" tractors in his day. The only thing I know about it, is that its not compatible with antifreze. I'm looking for the last sunset any day now and never heard of that before, so how about some of you other old timers, or younguns, throwing in something on it.

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Thomas L Kenyon

10-15-2005 05:33:36




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 Re: **Sodium Silicate** in reply to Merlin, 10-11-1999 14:17:46  
Yes I have heard of this as Liquid glass and yes it works very well I have seen this stuff seal up a crack in an engine block right in front of my eyes.



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walt parker/wsp trucking

05-11-2003 13:10:39




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 Re: **Sodium Silicate** in reply to Merlin, 10-11-1999 14:17:46  
heard of it now trying it in semi



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skipjack

01-17-2002 19:01:07




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 Re: **Sodium Silicate** in reply to Merlin, 10-11-1999 14:17:46  
Sealed a VAO Case with a 4 in. crack in the side of the block 5 or 6 years ago and it still holds antifreeze and is dry as a bone. Used Red Devil brand "Themoseal Hi-Temp Stove and Gasket Cement" which is sodium silicate or "waterglass". Took about 3 oz. to do the job.



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skipjack

01-17-2002 18:50:15




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 Re: **Sodium Silicate** in reply to Merlin, 10-11-1999 14:17:46  
Sealed a VAO Case with a 4 in. crack in the side of the block 5 or 6 years ago and it still holds antifreeze and is dry as a bone. Used Red Devil brand "Themoseal Hi-Temp Stove and Gasket Cement" which is sodium silicate or "waterglass". Took about 3 oz. to do the job.



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Charles Tonkinson

09-20-2001 17:56:00




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 Re: **Sodium Silicate** in reply to Merlin, 10-11-1999 14:17:46  
Well, I've read the last responses here and 2 of my friends suggested liquid glass to fix a blown head gasket (actually, the mechanic didn't know if it was the gasket or the head was cracked itself). I went to the drug store asking for liquid glass, hoping they wouldn't look at me like I was crazy, and they handed me a jar of the stuff. It was about the size of a mayo jar full of clear liquid. It does say on the side that it isn't compatable with antifreeze and they don't support using it in your radiator. This leads me to believe it's kind of one of those things where it works, but they won't guarantee it to save their butts from legalities later on. So, I'm going to give it a shot. I have an 87 Nissan PU 4 cyl. The only problem is, I don't know the "recipe" for how much to mix, and the heating and the cooling and draining, etc. I'll post later what I did and if it works. Heck, it's better to spend about $15 than $900 to change the darn head gasket. And if it doesn't work, what the heck, I'm in no better or worse spot than I'm in now.

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Chief 83

03-15-2009 18:25:37




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 Re: Cub carburetor in reply to Chief 83, 03-15-2009 18:10:40  
I really do like this site and support it often. I have numerous parts on order now. It has been 11 days so far. Just thought I could buy locally and get something accomplished while waiting for the remainder of the parts.



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Martin caldwell

10-12-1999 10:46:23




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 Re: **Sodium Silicate** in reply to Merlin, 10-11-1999 14:17:46  
we used water glass in disel irrigation engines, we couldn't and didn't have time to shut down. sealed until we could repair in the winter. have used it to seal blocks that had internal cracks. when using anti-freeze be sure the coolant is hot, then it will mix. it is easier to run water for several hours with the water glass, then drain and add anti-freeze. careful not to use too much, one quart is more than enough in any big engine.

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Martin

10-12-1999 02:34:31




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 Re: **Sodium Silicate** in reply to Merlin, 10-11-1999 14:17:46  
I have used water glass 4-5 times that I recolect, if you look on a can of k&w blockseal you will find the 2 main ingredients are sodium silicate, and fullers earth [cat litter], haven't looked at justice brothers, but amagine its the same. I used it on a Bronco II 2.9 with alumn heads, a 390 ford that was so bad water was comming out the tailpipe, put a piece of cardboard in front of the radiator to get it good and hot used 2 quarts on it, I kept adding water, every once in awhile it would pick up a cyl, when it left the shop it was hitting on all 8, and I saw at car run around town for 2-3 years. Saved the best for last.. A friend loaned his super a to a nieghbor to pull tobcco wagons, had it for 2 years, Billy and I went to get it, it was out from under the shelter with nothing over the exhust, stuck like dicks hatband. Pulled it down, the block is cracked between the cyls, I told him it need a block, he said we are going to fix this one no matter what it costs. To end a long story, it fixed it, that was 7 years ago, I bought the tractor, bought another block,[its still in the storage shed,] this is a working tractor, full of antifreeze, you tell me..does it work? Will you have any problems with it? Who knows.If the vehicle has a thermostat, you need to knock the center out of it and reinstall it for awhile to let it cure. Enough rambling for an old man for now, my forefingers are tired...

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Boni Sapno

01-31-2001 19:37:37




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 Re: Re: **Sodium Silicate** in reply to Martin, 10-12-1999 02:34:31  
Hi, i just wanted to know how to make sodium silicate, are there formula's that you know of, this is for our material science tech class, thanks,

PS: can you please do the same with boric acid and sodium carbonate, we are using these to make glass...



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Louis G

10-11-1999 23:14:33




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 Re: **Sodium Silicate** in reply to Merlin, 10-11-1999 14:17:46  
Justice Brothers Radiator Stop-Leak
•Seals leaks while you drive
•Safe for aluminun alloy blocks and radiators
•WILL NOT CLOG COOLING SYSTEM!!!!
•Not harmful to hoses or rubber
•MIXES WITH ALL TYPES OF ANTI-FREEZE
•Holds under pressure up to 25 lbs.
•Stops leaks in radiators, head gaskets, blocks, soft plugs, valve ports and heaters

IT WORKS.....SATISFACTION GUARANTEED



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Ludwig

10-11-1999 18:09:36




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 Re: **Sodium Silicate** in reply to Merlin, 10-11-1999 14:17:46  
If its anything like "Stops leaks" stay the heck away!
I put that danged stuff in a truck with a VERY small leak and the only thing it plugged was the thermostat.
Then I couldn't get the stupid stuff back out!
I had to flush and flush, and this in November and well below freezing outside (my workshop is outside). Then it would keep turning up and sticking thermostats for the next 4 years!

I finally got so I could see it coming. The heat guage would start to rise and get REALLY high, but then jump back down where it belonged as the thermostat let go. That ment it was time to change.

Nope I will NEVER use that crap again. It doesn't take that long to swap out a radiator. Even one with the powersteering lines in it.

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big fred

10-11-1999 14:51:53




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 Re: **Sodium Silicate** in reply to Merlin, 10-11-1999 14:17:46  
It's commonly called "water glass" or "soluble glass". I've heard of it being used to seal radiators in a pinch. Don't know much else about it, though.



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ltf in nc

10-11-1999 17:33:01




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 Re: Re: **Sodium Silicate** in reply to big fred, 10-11-1999 14:51:53  
My input is about the same as big fred's. In my neck of the woods it was referred to as liquid glass and water glass. It was purchased at drug stores and was added to the coolant. I never heard of any reference as to it not being compatible with antifreeze. Many people swore by it as a lasting fix, often stating "if it won't fix it nuthin will"



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Brian Schmidt

10-11-1999 17:38:20




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 Re: Re: Re: **Sodium Silicate** in reply to ltf in nc, 10-11-1999 17:33:01  
My dad had put liquid glass in the radiator of a 32 chevy one time. It sure stopped the leak, but it also plugged the entire radiator. He took it to a radiator shop to have it cleaned. They laughed at him and ended up selling him a new one.

Don't put it in your tractor!!!!



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skipjack

01-17-2002 18:59:56




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: **Sodium Silicate** in reply to Brian Schmidt, 10-11-1999 17:38:20  
Maybe he just plain put in too much. I've never had that happen but I only use 3-4 oz. Since you are only sealing a crack it doesn't take much.



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