As shown in the last picture http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showth...&threadid=4687
, when my fan blade “disappeared”, pieces also made a hit into the radiator and so far I’ve found three leaks.

Looked around the net and found some spicy and delicious ideas. Thinking in trying them before buying a new radiator. :yummie:

Search resulted in the possible solution of adding pepper into the cooling system to seal the leak. Another alternative I found is adding egg whites.

Out of these two, it looks like pepper is the better choice. Reports regarding how long the pepper repair lasts are quite dissimilar. Some state that this is just a temporary repair and others say they’re still using same radiators after two years.

Couldn’t get to establish quantity to be added. Again, some say half a pepper shaker should do the trick and even found a guy who declares he directly added a couple of entire grains.

Another cooking tip is that the pepper to be used is the black one. Seams we should all carry some in our trucks not only for sealing leaks but also for spicing up an eventual lousy breakfast…

Has anybody tried this before? Should I read again Green Eggs and Ham instead? :jester:


Some of the Green Eggs and Ham links I found:

http://www.detnews.com/2004/autoscon...g03-198702.htm

http://www.1st-in-articles.com/automotive/1424.htm

http://www2.abc.net.au/science/k2/st...topic8747.shtm

http://www.4x4review.com/tech/radiator.asp

http://www.stretcher.com/stories/01/010618k.cfm

I've seen the Egg one done on the TV Show Macgyver before.


I guess it'll work in a pinch ( Pepper = Pinch) but I wouldn't drive too long like that.

had a friend a while back who's dad swore by bananas...they apparently would use them all the time down where he was from. can't remember the country, but it was in south america somewhere. he'd say, get the engine good and warm (i.e. the radiator hot) and peel a banana and smush it on there. seems kinda weird to me, but....

Kevin

I'll stick to Prestone® Super Sealer and Stops Leaks as long as an auto parts place is nearby... but it's good to know pepper will work in an emergency.

Believe I'll start by trying the pepper (doesn't seam to be a harmful attempt) and then I'll better get into some coking course or something....

Will let you know how it goes and how long it takes me to change my mind and end up buying a new radiator. :cursin:

Just remember, what ever substance you put into the cooling system to plug the radiator holes will also be circulated throughout the entire system. Collateral damage which may be caused by these 'home' remedies could cost you a lot more than replacing or repairing the radiator in the first place.

Click and Clack's column a couple of weeks ago asked about the egg. To net out half of their column, they said the odds of it working were low (too many things have to go exactly right).

I've not heard about the pepper.

When I've had a leak, Bar's Stop Leak has always worked....even stopped leaks that I couldn't get fixed at a radiator shop.

Thank you all for your advise. (Unfortunately none of the mentioned products are available here in Argentina - except for bananas of course).

Here's the story: bought some black pepper and introduced it into the radiator (about 3 or 4 tea spoons). Made a 30 Km ride back from the office. Take a guess...

NOT A SINGLE DROP FROM TWO OUT OF THE THREE LEAKS I HAD!!!!!!!!!! (third one - the largest one - still leaking but much less).

Still want to see what happens tomorrow morning, once the engine is absolutely cold and hot again once I get to the office.

Although before traveling anywhere I'll change the radiator, not doing so now would be great. Got my fingers crossed.

Enjoy and LOL: If you ever have to do this, DONT TURN THE ENGINE ON while introducing the pepper into the radiator... or you’ll end up sneezing like I did... No comments on this, ok?

Pedro -

Escribes inglés muy bien. ¿Donde aprendiste la idioma?

Bunch of schools here teach English & Spanish (starting at around 4 years old until you’re about 18). Four years after that I started working for international companies so I had the chance to practice and recover large part of the vocabulary. Still, have to go to the dictionary or to a parts site/manual to understand some of the technical words used in here.

HEY, 500 MILES AND STILL RUNNING WITH PEPPER!!!!!!.