What are the side effects of automotive air conditioner leak sealant?
2 Answers
Long-term use of automotive leak sealant can cause radiator corrosion and easily clog the engine water passages. Here is relevant information: 1. After using leak sealant, a membrane will form on the inner wall of the radiator, increasing its thickness. Therefore, automotive leak sealant should only be used as an emergency solution. 2. If components of the automotive air conditioning cooling system, such as the radiator, heat exchanger, thermostat, or water pump, have poor welding, material defects, or improper design, prolonged vehicle vibration, impacts, and external forces can easily cause weld cracks and lead to fluid leakage. 3. The principle of automotive leak sealant is to utilize the pressure difference inside and outside the leak or leakage point. During the leakage process, adhesive particles move and accumulate in the leakage gap, then bond together through the adhesive to form a membrane on the inner wall of the radiator, thereby achieving the purpose of leak prevention.
After using an automotive AC leak sealant, I encountered quite a few aftereffects, and that repair experience left me full of regrets. It clogged the expansion valve, causing the AC cooling performance to deteriorate increasingly, and the fan kept buzzing nonstop. In the end, the entire system had to be disassembled for a major overhaul, costing me over a thousand yuan. Even worse, it didn’t completely solve the problem—small leaks turned into big ones, and the compressor was also damaged. A friend at the repair shop said such sealants tend to solidify and clog other pipeline components, leaving behind more hidden risks. Now, I always advise friends around me: never take shortcuts by using this stuff. Going directly to a 4S shop for professional inspection is the right way. Otherwise, the consequences are endless—not only affecting driving comfort but also wasting money. Regular maintenance of the AC system can avoid these unnecessary troubles.
