Black Pepper - as stop leak

Billy NY · Jun 10, 2012

I've never been one to use "dump in" solutions, most "snake oils" etc., rather fix the problem regardless if its major work, but recall hearing about this and was wondering if any one has ever used it in a cooling system,

Here is why, time to start mowing again, and I'm still running this old 850 Ford, 4 cyl. 172 motor. For the life of me, I cannot find the coolant leak, and it leaks down enough to put 1 up to 2 gallons in it, maybe 2x per year or so. I thought it was a head gasket, oil is clean and has never gotten any coolant in it. Upon a closer look at the block over the years, it appears to be porosity in the casting, as the leak literally seems to come "through the wall" with no trail from a hose, not the radiator, or water pump. I did put a thermostat in it not long ago, fixed my gauges some time back, this tractor was really kind of worn and abused, figured it would have been parts by now, might run up to 200 Deg F when really working, 40 psi or so on the oil when idling, so along with what I have fixed on it, not a bad runner. First time, I've never been able to source a leak, seems to just appear on the side of the block, you can smell the vapor when running hard in tall/thick grasses. Was wondering if the black pepper or similar would be appropriate, seeing its likely to be porosity, and I do not have a high pressure cap on the radiator either, learned how those find leaks for you when I was a kid.

Anonymous-0 · Jun 10, 2012

Black pepper works real well but prolly not gonna solve your problem. Sounds like your water pump is leaking and you don't see it when you stop the motor. Or a HG and sucking it in the combustion chamber/out the exhaust....

Just reread your post. Clean it up good, tighten the hoses, and stick some gum in the WP weep hole and try again.. My little tractor was driving me nuts and it was a hose dripping and fan blew it back right away and you couldn't see where it came from. Was taking things apart to replace the WP when we saw the real problem.....

hd6gtom · Jun 10, 2012

I have a Hydra Mac skid loader with the same motor that does the same thing. I am going to get a new rad cap some day.

Russ from MN · Jun 10, 2012

Why not just use a commercially available stop leak, like Barr's. I have had great luck using it and it is a wonderful water pump lubricant. I worked for a large logging contractor once and he dumped some in every piece of new equipment just in case, and he had very good luck!

Ivan in Mich · Jun 10, 2012

I don't want to hi jack this thread but will a water pump contuine to leak when the engine is not running/ I have a engine that I have to add coolant to a couple time every few months and I think is is the water pump but cannot see any leaks. I think it is blowing coolant out while running and misting it so I cannot find the leak

Billy NY · Jun 10, 2012

Don't believe I have ever used any of those, like Barr's but thinking this sure seems to be one problem that stuff is meant for, but does it have any drawbacks, engine block, radiator core, I assume once the coolant is hot, it does its thing.

Billy NY · Jun 10, 2012

Annoying, I ran a D8K that had some slight leak, constant odor, the core in one of those is huge, they ended up putting a new radiator core in it.

I had cleaned the motor on this ford and came to the conclusion that it was somehow passing through the block, the rest was dry.

I'd have known if it was a head gasket or similar, I have been topping off the coolant for years in this tractor, thinking about it, seems like one of the odd times a simple solution may resolve the problem given what I think it is, porosity in the block.

Anonymous-0 · Jun 10, 2012

If it runs ok you can buy lots of coolant for the cost of an engine rebuild.

4020guy · Jun 10, 2012

I would drain and flush the system a few times, fill with distilled or deionized water and add a can of Barrs leak. Heat the can abit and shake it well to disolve the little pellets. Put her to work and heat her up. Drain and flush this fall and fill with anti- freeze. I've seen that stuff do some wonderous stuff. A neighbour had a overheating Belarus[compression in the coolant],dumped in a couple of cans of Barrs. Stopped overheating and that was two years ago. I agree there is no such thing as an overhaul in a can but what do you have to lose? If you have to depend on something everyday to make a living is one thing but to mow some grass? To fix it "right" might cost 2K. Good luck......Ron

fort67 · Jun 10, 2012

We traded an 8n that was leaking water. Lo and behold found a pin in the block. Back then we put a can of black pepper and it fixed the leak. 20+ years ago. Used Barr's it works very well.

Anonymous-0 · Jun 10, 2012

Google Irontite. They make a sealer you can add to existing coolant and also a flush and ceramic sealer that race cars use.

old · Jun 10, 2012

Pepper no Bars leak copper yes it does work well and I have used it more then once and as I said it works well

JMOR · Jun 10, 2012

(quoted from post at 11:42:32 06/10/12) Pepper no Bars leak copper yes it does work well and I have used it more then once and as I said it works well

don't know the composition..looks like red pepper....used in my combine in 1986 & it stopped the pin hole leaks to this day! From the same company that makes JB Weld.

Anonymous-0 · Jun 10, 2012

(quoted from post at 07:36:41 06/10/12) I don't want to hi jack this thread but will a water pump contuine to leak when the engine is not running/ I have a engine that I have to add coolant to a couple time every few months and I think is is the water pump but cannot see any leaks. I think it is blowing coolant out while running and misting it so I cannot find the leak

you's prolly right.....

NCWayne · Jun 10, 2012

I've had two customers in the past year that had issues with coolant leaks but couldn't afford (or didn't want) to address the problem correctly. Both used a bottle of Bars leaks with the liquid glass formula and the problems went away. One of the problems I was all but certain was either a blown head gasket or a cracked head given the amount of pressure being forced back into the radiator. The pressure was so great it would literally blow water three feet out of the cap when running. That was toward the end of last summer. He put in a bottle of the sealant and so far he has worked the fool out of the machine and it's still going with no issues at all. The other was the place my dad works for now. I can't remember what he said the problem was but the sealant with the liquid glass was what they used and so far they have had no more problems with the truck running it nearly every day.

While I'm not one for all of the latest and greatest snakes oils, etc, I've got to say that based on the results I've seen this new liquid glass stuff works better than anything I've ever seen.

Wile E · Jun 10, 2012

When I was a kid......A long time ago. I had a pinhole leak in the radiator of my Chevy Citation. I bought a small bottle of this aluminum metal flake stuff that I poured into the radiator and it stopped leaking for about a year, then I sold the car. Still was not leaking when I sold it.

MarkB_MI · Jun 10, 2012

Many new cars ship with stop leak in the coolant. I know my Ford tractor has a leaky radiator, but it has been running many years since I added Alumaseal to the coolant. One day I'll replace or repair the radiator, but until that day a couple of bucks worth of stop leak is good enough.

37chief · Jun 10, 2012

Irontite,that is what I would use. I have used it several times with good results. Stan

Billy NY · Jun 10, 2012

Much appreciate all of your responses, thanks again, will check out and select one of those products and as soon as I can will start mowing, grass got real tall with all the rain, will post a follow up on it, seem to think I should have done this sooner, we all know how that goes LOL !

WJD · Jun 10, 2012

An engineer from Cummins told me to use black pepper but I just fixed the leak and never tried it. I suppose black pepper is as good as anything else on the market and maybe cheaper.

jim johnson · Jun 10, 2012

I developed a radiator leak out in far western Kansas on 96 highway years ago in a International 18 wheeler. I put water in at the first town I came to in Kansas and by the time I got to the next town, 22 miles, it was low again. I had been told long before that in a tough situation to get the biggest can of black pepper I could find, close the line to the heater. I did this and it held good till I got to KC and unloaded took it to a shop north of there 50 miles and had a new radiator installed.

So in a pinch it will work but it will not last very long. That's my story and it got me home.

Jim

JayinNY · Jun 10, 2012

Ya, that's the truth. I mowed pasture 3 weeks ago, and it needs it again. Darn horses, they dont like tall grass. But with all the rain they can't keep up with it. So I gotta mow it again! Ughhhh. I wanna start hay, but who knows when! Lol

jim johnson · Jun 10, 2012

I developed a radiator leak out in far western Kansas on 96 highway years ago in a International 18 wheeler. I put water in at the first town I came to in Kansas and by the time I got to the next town, 22 miles, it was low again. I had been told long before that in a tough situation to get the biggest can of black pepper I could find, close the line to the heater. I did this and it held good till I got to KC and unloaded took it to a shop north of there 50 miles and had a new radiator installed.

So in a pinch it will work but it will not last very long. That's my story and it got me home.

Jim

jim johnson · Jun 10, 2012

I developed a radiator leak out in far western Kansas on 96 highway years ago in a International 18 wheeler. I put water in at the first town I came to in Kansas and by the time I got to the next town, 22 miles, it was low again. I had been told long before that in a tough situation to get the biggest can of black pepper I could find, close the line to the heater. I did this and it held good till I got to KC and unloaded took it to a shop north of there 50 miles and had a new radiator installed.

So in a pinch it will work but it will not last very long. That's my story and it got me home.

Jim

Hobo,NC · Jun 10, 2012

I would find the leak and repair it BUT

Black pepper will seal a eternal crack in a block are it will seal it were you can live with it... Worth a try nuttin to loose,,, I don't think black pepper can be dissolved...

Their are some leaks that will evaporate B_4 you see'em that can be found if you are willing to look for them.. :idea: if you are interest in going their your nose is tell'n you sum'n...

cannonball · Jun 11, 2012

use ground ginger

Anonymous-0 · Jun 11, 2012

I used some stopleak and that just slowed it down, water leaking into the oil. So I put some pepper in and went to plow a paddock. The tractor boiled, I removed the radiator cap. there was this great swoosh,like air escaping. hasn't leaked since.
Don't know which one stopped it.

Billy NY · Jun 11, 2012

We sure got the make up rain, but little opportunity to cut and dry hay until recently.

Black Pepper - as stop leak

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