Do not us silicone on the joints. Won't tell you anything, really, and you will have a mess should you ever need to clean it up.
I think you have two issues here that are not related. A slow leak somewhere in your circulatory system is one and the other is your cleaner not working. I cannot help with the cleaner and that seems to be your most pressing problem.
You personally can not help with the cleaner or this forum in general can't?