What is the best way to fix a coolant leak?
Proper repair depends where the leak is. Coolant leaks often occur at the water pump shaft seal. Other leak points include radiator, heater cores, hoses, freeze plugs, and the engine itself. Small radiator leaks, as well as minor internal seepage inside the engine or past a freeze plug, can often be temporarily plugged with a can of sealer. No sealer will plug a leaky water pump, hose or badly damaged or corroded radiator. The only cure is to replace the faulty component. Small radiator leaks can often be patched by soldering or using a special high-temperature epoxy. Other options include sending the radiator to a specialty shop for repair or recoring, or replacing the entire radiator itself with a new one. With a leaky heater core, replacement is the best option. Internal coolant leaks are more of a challenge to fix because they require more expertise to diagnose and repair. Coolant can seep past a head gasket or hairline cracks in the engine block or cylinder head and enter the comb
