Question for the mechanics?

Question

Does mustard seal leaks around your water pump? A lady I work with is having water pump problems with a van she bought from a guy we both work with. He told her to put mustard in it. I think he's full of sh*t. What do you guys think

Sorry, he said put mustard in the raditator to seal it. He also said he's done it before

Answer 1

It's not mustard, like you put on a hot dog. It's Mustard SEED.

The seeds are very tiny and the theory is that they will get into the crack, then expand as they absorb water, plugging the leak. Never tired it personally, heard it works sometimes.

I would just go to a store and buy radiator stop leak. It works sometimes, sometimes not. More likely to work than mustard seed. Stop leak in any case is a temporary thing. It will eventually fail.

A water pump leak could be any of 3 things.

A leak around the shaft of the pump means the seal around that shaft is worn out. Requires a new pump. Stop leak probably won't help.

A leak around the edges of the water pump means the gasket is bad. That just requires an new gasket, not a new pump. Stop leak more likely to help her than any where else.

A cracked casing could also be the cause. Requires a new pump.

If she does have it worked on, go ahead and replace the pump regardless of the cause of the leak. The cost of the pump is minimal compared to the cost of labor to install.

Answer 2

Pepper will seal leaks (A mechanic friend said that's all they used in the Navy) but I've never heard of mustard. I'm thinking it would just stink and not do much good.

For a water pump leak you need to replace it. Even stop leak products don't work on those being the parts are moving. Follow all the advice above me and replace the pump and tell the guy he's full of grey poupon.

Answer 3

Ya know what. "If sh*t were music he'd be a brass band". Mustard's for hot dogs. Water pumps have pressed in seals aroung the center shaft bearing. The seal wears out and the bearing goes to crap and starts to leak. What to hell is hot 190 degree mustard going to do? The gasket that seals the waterpump to the block or cylinder heads is usually coated with silicone and the anchor bolts coated with Permatex on the threads.

Answer 4

I think he's full of it too. Mustard is water soluble so I don't see this having any kind of an effect on a leak. I'd just get the pump replaced and be done with it.

Answer 5

ive heard black pepper or an egg but never mustard. usually a water pump leaks because the bearing in it is bad and lets the impeller slide back and pop the seal. id just fix it right, replace the water pump and seal and not try to do a patch job.

Answer 6

I'm afraid in this case replacement of the water pump is the only viable option...the seal generally begins leaking because the bearing in the pump is failing, causing the shaft to wobble. The water pump should be replaced a soon as possible. Failure is imminent, and the leak is likely to be the only warning.

Answer 7

things that will seal radiator 1/16 to 1/8 cup pepper or a raw egg
nether will seal a water pump where the seal has gone bad
there is no sealer that will do that as the bearing is also failing get a new pump and drive without worries

Answer 8

Mustard?!?!?!? thats hilarious. like dog hair in the radiator or sawdust in the transmission? This guy IS full of s*it. She needs a new water pump and dont let this moron work on it

Answer 9

thats BULLSH*T put mustard some mustard in the sink and turn the water on and watch it wash away same thing will happen if you put it in a radiator it will just flow thru the engine mustard in the radiator i thought i had heard them all

Answer 10

Another Shade Tree University Graduate.