The GM coolant sealer pellets are they safe or will it plug the heater core? I'm trying to hold off a repair on a minor coolant leak from the head gasket on a '95 GM 2.2ohv.
GM Sealer Pellets
- Thread starter Turbozombie
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I used them and they didn't gum up anything. Any GM dealer will sell them to you for about $5.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Did you have a head gasket leak?
Did you have a head gasket leak?
I change the coolant (Dexcool) in our vehicles, a 1999 4.8L Silverado & a 1997 3.1L Lumina every 2 years (rad only, not a complete flush). Never had any coolant related problems, fluid is always "crystal clear orange". I feel comfortable doing it this way, the system is getting "fresh" 5-year coolant every 2 years. Our vehicles do not get driven very much, maybe 7000-8000 km/year, 65% city, 35% highway. My wife can walk to work, I cycle in the warmer weather. Cheap maintenance. I can about get half the coolant capacity out of the Lumina (overflow tank included) and about 70% out of the Silverado. Here are my questions (finally!!): Should I be adding the GM sealer pellets when I do these rad drains and is my method OK?
It that question was directed at me, no head gasket problem, no coolant in the oil, no oil in the coolant, a pressure check and at about the same time a uoa that showed nothing. It's been about 6 months and almost 10k miles, no problems. This stuff might just work...
Don't know if LarryL is responding to me, but I'm still unsure if my "Rad drain" method is OK as preventative maintenance and whether or not I need to add GM sealer pellets. Other posts on this forum are either pro/con simple rad drain/refill.
Rocketman I use your method as long as the coolant looks ok
to start with and I add 2-3 of the 5 coolant GM tabs. If the system is already one that someone actually believed GM and ran it out to 100,000
or 5 or over years I do more aggressive rad methods since 1/2 brown usually stays brown and probably means some other air leak issues.
I do the same with the transmission - eg near pink 1/2 out with a simple drain every 20-36K miles seems to work. Black, brown, burned smell fluid or again the GM faithful with 100K miles
I do more and drain with the oil changes 2X sometime 3X.
On the original post. I would do at least a drain and pellets for coolant in the oil and I oil test for it on GM V6 and sure would to see the level and whether what I chnge is working.
Once I have a minor leak I drop to 3k OIC in part
to test more often. Its only $20 compared to the motor or at least the head gasket.
to start with and I add 2-3 of the 5 coolant GM tabs. If the system is already one that someone actually believed GM and ran it out to 100,000
or 5 or over years I do more aggressive rad methods since 1/2 brown usually stays brown and probably means some other air leak issues.
I do the same with the transmission - eg near pink 1/2 out with a simple drain every 20-36K miles seems to work. Black, brown, burned smell fluid or again the GM faithful with 100K miles
I do more and drain with the oil changes 2X sometime 3X.
On the original post. I would do at least a drain and pellets for coolant in the oil and I oil test for it on GM V6 and sure would to see the level and whether what I chnge is working.
Once I have a minor leak I drop to 3k OIC in part
to test more often. Its only $20 compared to the motor or at least the head gasket.
I don't like to use cooling system sealer, because I'm afraid it will cover up small problems, which I would rather fix, and mask them until they become more serious problems with potential for catastrophic failure.
I'd rather know about the small problem right away, then I can fix it.
Any thoughts on this?
- Glenn
I'd rather know about the small problem right away, then I can fix it.
Any thoughts on this?
- Glenn
I bought the pellets from GM, what is recommended for the 2.24cyl? The package has 6 pellets.
I assume right or wrong the 6 pellets are for a mid sized V6 GM like the 3.1 and 3.8 which is 12 qts. I adjust the number of pellets based on either capacity differences or whether I just drop the radiator rather than all of it.
If its still leaking after I run it while, I add the rest.
If its still leaking after I run it while, I add the rest.
The 6 pellet pack is 6 x 10g
The 5 pellet pack is 5 x 4g
They are actually made by BarsLeak, and you can pick them up and a lot of auto parts stores, you don't have to go to the dealer. I got the 6 pack at O'Reillys for ~$2.
IIRC, GM recommends 1-1.5g per liter of coolant.
And LarryL, if you have any information that GM is still using these in all new cars at the factory, I'd like to know. From everything I've heard/read about them, GM stopped that practice a long time ago and doesn't recommend their techs to use them unless specifically instructed in one of GM's bulletins.
The 5 pellet pack is 5 x 4g
They are actually made by BarsLeak, and you can pick them up and a lot of auto parts stores, you don't have to go to the dealer. I got the 6 pack at O'Reillys for ~$2.
IIRC, GM recommends 1-1.5g per liter of coolant.
And LarryL, if you have any information that GM is still using these in all new cars at the factory, I'd like to know. From everything I've heard/read about them, GM stopped that practice a long time ago and doesn't recommend their techs to use them unless specifically instructed in one of GM's bulletins.
I used 3 of the pelets, the leak has slowed quite a bit, but still leaks, maybe add another 2 pellets?
I used about 4 ounces of Pennzoil high mileage "professional" radiator sealant last year..
During an inspection I saw some green coolant at the heater box/evaporator drain..A very small seepage, maybe from the O rings at the heater core pipes..
This worked.
And on an annual basis I add some anti-rust to the coolant and never change it either ( until coolant hoses start to leak at year 11).
I would be very careful with using the GM pellets. Follow the directions to the T. IMO, if they ,or the Pennzoil, do not work, then it is time for serious repairs..
During an inspection I saw some green coolant at the heater box/evaporator drain..A very small seepage, maybe from the O rings at the heater core pipes..
This worked.
And on an annual basis I add some anti-rust to the coolant and never change it either ( until coolant hoses start to leak at year 11).
I would be very careful with using the GM pellets. Follow the directions to the T. IMO, if they ,or the Pennzoil, do not work, then it is time for serious repairs..
I recently used Bars leak to seal a head gasket coolant leak, been about two months now and all is fine so far, never know how long these quick fixes will last but as I also have a head gasket oil leak I had little to lose by trying. repair more then the car is worth and a rebuilt was the next step.
wonder what the Japanese think about the use of, or need for pellets?
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