Coolant sealer tablets?

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actionstan

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Hello All,

I have a 99 saturn sl1 with 133k miles.

I believe I have discovered a small antifreeze leak between cylinders 3-4 at the intake manifold gasket. (I plan to pressurize the system with A pressure tester this weekend to verify.)

This is a slow leak.. a few MM over the period of several months, Its also getting cold, and I currently don't have the money to replace EVERYTHING I want to replace if I'm going to drain the cooling system.. (Thermostat, water pump, intake manifold gasket, and possibly radiator hoses.)

My question is, if you guys can recommend any good tablets or stop leak as a temp fix, that wont goo up the system.. I was thinking of trying the GM oem stop leak pellets(these are obviously what gm recommends using for small leaks).. I have had luck with bars stop leak in the past.. but it goos the system up too much.. I am not a fan of fixes in a bottle.. I just want something to help temporarily without any negative effects, until I have the money and the time to replace everything I want to.
 
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Give it a shot. Fixing the issue is really the only true way to fix it but the crushed walnut tabs that GM has is recommended as a last shot before asn overhaul.
 
Actually in the GM factory service manual for my '94 Grand Am, they recommend using those cooling tablets every time the cooling system is serviced at the rate of 2 tablets. So, yes, this is your stop gap measure.

Any idea how much coolant is in the oil?
 
Originally Posted By: benjamming
Actually in the GM factory service manual for my '94 Grand Am, they recommend using those cooling tablets every time the cooling system is serviced at the rate of 2 tablets. So, yes, this is your stop gap measure.

Any idea how much coolant is in the oil?


None, on a saturn, the intake manifold does not cross with any oil unlike the dreaded gm 3.1 engine, this is just a small external leak as far as i can tell.. the only way coolant would be getting into the engine is if it was leaking into one of the intake air passages, and i dont imagine that would hurt anything.. but i recently changes spark plugs, no deposits, so im not worried about contamination.
 
Those coolant pellets were marketed as somehow the thing for fixing porous aluminum... I don't particularly believe it.

The gasket is the most involved fix of all the stuff you list but none is really all that expensive. I say drain your old coolant, do the gasket on a saturday morning and then if you feel cocky buy the rest of the stuff. If overwhelmed, put your coolant back and save the rest for later. Can probably get gasket, stat, water pump, and a gallon of coolant for $60 with an advance auto coupon code.

You'll want a good set of jackstands or ramps as there will be nuts you have to go at from BELOW which involves contortions. Fortunately these will give up pretty easily with an open end wrench. Make sure you have stubby and regular length wrenches, 1/4" fine tooth ratchets, etc etc. Consider removing the passenger side motor mount and prying the whole engine forward-- you can do this on the ground by releasing the e-brake, rolling the car, and re-setting the e-brake.

On my 2000 the gasket was shoved in my an uncaring robot and wrinkled in the process but your 99 might be different.
 
Try Bars Leak Gold powder, its the same as the tabs but easier to use.
Both are ginger root based so they have good sealing properties without clogging anything up, once soaked ginger root has the unique property of staying shrunken unlike other wood products, it only expands when exposed to air.
 
Years ago I bought a blister pack of ACDelco sealing tabs. The list of ingredients on the back included almond shell, ginger root, and turmeric. This seems to be pretty similar to all the other products on the market - especially Bars.
 
GM tabs will work just fine.

I'm under the impression that GM used to add these to their engines that had iron blocks and aluminum heads to help keep from coolant leak issues.

Every time I have flushed my coolant in my 2002 with the 5.3 I used three tabs after installing fresh coolant.
 
Originally Posted By: Trav
Try Bars Leak Gold powder, its the same as the tabs but easier to use.
Both are ginger root based so they have good sealing properties without clogging anything up, once soaked ginger root has the unique property of staying shrunken unlike other wood products, it only expands when exposed to air.

Do you mean this one ?
http://barsproducts.com/catalog/view/5-powder-radiator-stop-leak-conditioner-g12bp

Or this one ?
http://barsproducts.com/catalog/view/32-pelletized-heavy-duty-stop-leak-plt11
 
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Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
Originally Posted By: Trav
Try Bars Leak Gold powder, its the same as the tabs but easier to use.
Both are ginger root based so they have good sealing properties without clogging anything up, once soaked ginger root has the unique property of staying shrunken unlike other wood products, it only expands when exposed to air.

Do you mean this one ?
http://barsproducts.com/catalog/view/5-powder-radiator-stop-leak-conditioner-g12bp

Or this one ?
http://barsproducts.com/catalog/view/32-pelletized-heavy-duty-stop-leak-plt11


The site doesn't work well with my browser. I think it is this part number but will look tomorrow AM at a package i have in the garage.

http://www.gatzies.com/p-32160-34-oz-bars-leaks-stop-leak-powder.aspx
 
When this topic has been brought up recently I've seen the Bars Leak Gold powder with ginger root mentioned. I've searched the BL site several times since and no longer see it listed. Only BL product with ginger root I now see mentioned is the radiator stop leak tabs. Makes me wonder if BL has discontinued the gold powder?

Site doesn't seem to be the most user friendly though.
 
The part number is G12BP and looks the same as the one in the link i posted.
They have changed the formula the new one with this part number is silver and doesn't appear to contain any ginger.

The Bars Leak tabs do contain Ginger and are the same as the formula in the link.
At $1.58 a tube i would grab plenty of it, i cleaned Big Lots out years ago at $.90 a tube, i think i have about 30 left.

Another alternative is from the Subaru dealer. The Subaru cooling system conditioner is ginger based and made by Holts.
 
Look up BG cooling system sealant. Research this sealant on your own and decide if its for you. I have read up on this product and it looks like a very good sealant, that works well and does not cause any issues if applied correctly... Good luck.
 
Originally Posted By: Trav
Try Bars Leak Gold powder, its the same as the tabs but easier to use.
Both are ginger root based so they have good sealing properties without clogging anything up, once soaked ginger root has the unique property of staying shrunken unlike other wood products, it only expands when exposed to air.



Thanks Trav, I have taken your recommendation, bought some bars stop leak powder, put it in this morning, hoping for good results, what a good price too only 1.62 at my local Walmart.
 
A well maintained, properly operating cooling system should not need any of these products. It is a Band aid and will not "fix" anything. In fact it will make things worse.

It's like having a little cancer or being a little pregnant.
 
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