Read this page to learn how to stop a radiator leak before it causes major damage.

Your radiator plays such a huge role in the performance of your engine that you simply can't afford to let it fall victim to leaks. If an issue does pop up, a radiator will not stop leaking on its own. Instead, the problem will only get worse - and wind up costing you more money. There may come a time to perform what we call a radiator stop leak.

Even a tiny radiator leak will cause coolant to spray or drip. And, the more coolant you lose, the more vulnerable your car is to overheating. Without enough coolant, your engine can turn into a smoky, expensive mess in just a few minutes!

What is the bottom line? In reality, there is no such thing as a "minor leak". You have to do everything you can to stop radiator leaks sooner, rather than later.

Where do radiator leaks come from? It can come from lots of places!

The most innocent of actions can lead to a leaky radiator. Road salt and other small particles of debris out on the street can work their way into a radiator and cause a leak. Or, if the inside of your radiator starts to corrode, it can cause leaks.

Your radiator's age can even cause leaks. In fact, age actually has more to do with radiator leaks than mileage. If you think you're exempt from radiator leaks because you don't drive very much, think again.

But no matter what caused it, the key is to make your radiator stop leaking before it causes major damage.

But how do you do it?

You have to start by figuring out where the leak is. To do it, spray your radiator with a hose. Then, start the engine and look at the radiator and the connecting hoses. You should be able to see water dripping out through the leak.

Most of the time, radiator leaks will pop up at the seams and where the headers and tubes are joined. Even in a brand new radiator, those are the weak points.

Once you have discovered the source of the leak, you can patch it. There are a variety of radiator stop leak chemicals out there that work just by pouring them into the radiator. (There is a product that is actually called Bar's Radiator Stop Leak that you can find in auto parts stores and also online). But you will have to choose a radiator stop leak product carefully, though. Subpar chemicals can actually leave deposits behind that clog your radiator and lead to even more serious leaks!

A radiator stop leak chemical is only a temporary fix, though. To completely eliminate the problem, you will need to use a specific radiator sealer - also known as a "cold weld". If you're not comfortable sealing your radiator yourself, have a professional do it. This type of radiator repair is important to the life of your engine and needs to be taken seriously.