"DerbyDad03" wrote in message
ups.com...
On Nov 12, 3:05 pm, Speedy Jim wrote:

I don't know anything about home boiler systems, so this might be way
off base, but I'll throw it out there anyway...

An automobile radiator repair guy once told me that stop-leak products
can cause more problems than they fix. Since they are made to clog up
leaks, they may also clog up any passages that have narrowed due to
corrosion and gunk, reducing the efficiency of the radiator.

Granted, the passageways in a home boiler system might be so large
that this is not an issue, but I thought I'd mention it anyway.

You are quite right about auto aspect - the cure being worse than the fix.
I recieved a "recall" notice from Subaru several years ago recommending a
"conditioning additive" be added to my cooling system free of charge at my
dealer. It was supposed to ensure longevity of engine gaskets.

I dutifully took my 3 year old car to my dealer in September and had the
stuff done. Didn't think anything further about it until next summer when
my car started to overheat during long hill climbs.

To make a long story short, the "conditioner" was a rad leak-stop product.
The service personnel added it then turned off the engine. The metallic
agent congealed at the bottom of my rad, effectively restricting the fluid
flow by over half.

I found all this out when I finally decided to replace the rad (not at the
dealer). After seeing the cause of the problem, I approached the dealer who
"did the deed". They declined to reimburse me because A) I had the
replacement done elsewhere, and B) they hinted that I had added the product
myself.

These guys get zero business from me now. But good/expensive lesson
learned.