Stopped by Pep boys today to pick up some fuel system cleaner and was talking to the guy and he mentioned a product that just pours straight into the where the oil goes and after 1,000 miles it should fix it, unless it needs a mechanical repair...I'm skeptical but I figure the worst it could do was help the leak. Just wondering if any body has used one of these on their 80.
The problem with additives that go in any fluid, is they have properties of thier own that the factory didn't acount for when they built the rig. this can cause numerous problems, depending on what the additive is. With a stop leak type fluid, there are a couple of diferent ways they can work, the most common being the goop up when the meet air causing the leak to stop. However, if they are gooping up where the leak is, where else are they gooping up?
Bottom line is it's your truck you can do what you want, I personally belive in fixing it the right way once and being done with it, with a patch fix like an additive you never know when its gonna let go and cause major problems in the middle of no where!!
Good luck which ever way you go!!
Besides clotting some of these use seal swelling, seal swelling can work but can also change the consistency of other seals that are not leaking right now, it is debatable weather this is a good thing
I personally stay away from products like that, not worth the risk for a minor leak and will not fix a major one
Well, I've put it in the truck, takes 1k miles for it to supposedly plug the leak. Would getting the oil changed get rid of the fluid if I decide this wasn't a great decision?
[quote author=nyk438 link=board=2;threadid=16536;start=msg158996#msg158996 date=1084856834]
Well, I've put it in the truck, takes 1k miles for it to supposedly plug the leak. Would getting the oil changed get rid of the fluid if I decide this wasn't a great decision?
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yes -- i would change it, run it 500 miles, and change it again --
-- this stuff is alluring, but too good to be true, unfortuantely --
Not only snake oil that is useless, in the long run, but also snake oil that can actually harm an engine. Many of the stop leaks are simply seal swellers that soften up seals and swell them somewhat. In many cases the chemical process is actually an attack on the rubber with petroleum distillates. Sure, at first the soft seals seem to seal better, but in time they will fail just like they would have failed anyway. Meanwhile, during that time the stop leak stuff can gum up internals and gum up filters etc. I would never use this stuff, ever! If it were me ( keep in mind I'm anal and paranoid about my maintenance procedures ) I would immediately drain the oil, run some fresh stuff for a few hundred miles, drain that, get the leak fixed, then run fresh stuff again. HTH
I want to get the leak fixed, but I don't have the money or the time as of now to fix it and be without a car. I'm a student about to be going off to college and the car is all my responsibilty as far as maintence and money. (other than the couple times every few months my parents throw me some gas money which is rare) I'll get the oil changed and run the Castrol high mileage oil. Would go mobil 1 but that is very expensive....
Any other types of oil that people use and find it to run well. Pennzoil(sp) is too thin and leaks quickly.
Rotella Synthetic 15w-40, comes in one gallon jugs, ~$12 at Walmart. I have some consumption issues, a little oil on the undercarriage, but no drips on the ground, the Rotella Synthetic has been the best for slowing oil consumption for me, so far. I don't think Castrol is too highly regarded.
don't bother
