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> Anyone have any experience with cooling system "stop leak"
> products such as
> Bars or Alumaseal? Do they work? Any problems? Thanks.
I'm going to get booed and hissed at ... I've used Alumaseal on numerous
occasions and had pretty good luck with it. It's strictly a temporary
"band-aid" (although I've been known to use it for years), and only useful
for smallish leaks in hard surfaces, like a cracked radiator or WP housing.
I've never been able to stop a head gasket leak with it (which makes sense
to me as it's on the wrong side of the leak).
Unfortunately, Alumaseal has changed their formula and I've no experience
(yet) with the new one.
One of the important things, IMO, is that the cooling system must be in
reasonably good shape other than the crack. If it's already restricted with
crap, crud & corrosion, it's very likely going to completely clog with the
stop leak.
Clogged radiator is the main risk anyway, besides not working at all.
Brought home a can of "KW Block Seal" to try on a leaking head gasket (on my
Stag motor) ... I doubt it will work but figured it couldn't hurt to try.
KW is a very different product, it's actually "water glass" (sodium
silicate) based, and does not mix with regular coolant. You flush the
system until no antifreeze is left (the instructions note that any
antifreeze left in the system will cause the radiator to clog), then go
through the prescribed routine with the product mixed with water in the
system, then drain the product and refill with ordinary coolant.
I've been informed (by someone who should know) that Triumph recommended
that the dealers install stop-leak in new Stags and TR7s. He said "Bar's
leak" and "Alumaseal" were mentioned by brand. But I've not seen the TSB
myself.
Randall
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