What is the BITOG consensus on engine stop leak products?

[DV0993]

Hi all,

Per the topic - Whats the consensus on stop leak products? Are they in any way harmful?

Backstory - I bought a 2006 Mini Cooper S which are known to leak from small o rings situated inconveniently.

I used some stop leak as a preventative measure - which managed to stop a slight weep from the rocker cover gasket too.

I'm now thinking of using it on my more "precious" vehicles and wondering if there are any downsides (e.g increased engine wear, excessive swelling of seals).

Thoughts?

 

[HemiBenny]

Well, I'm a bit set in my ways, and I believe there's only one way to stop a leak, and it doesn't come in a bottle.
Those Stop Leaks may work at times, but my concern is with the collateral damage from gumming up other things.

 

[Furious]

For cooling systems, A/C systems absolutely not.

For engines products like AT-205 are proven to work but even then it shouldn't be a go to.

 

[Lubener]

I would only use them on bad leaks. Worse case, the stop leak doesn't work and you have to repair it anyway.

 

[rszappa1]

ATP 205....

 

[50yr Street Mech]

ATP-205. Only let me down on a torn seal/ damaged seal. Other than that, tried everything else...nothing worked.

 

[rszappa1]

ATP-205. Only let me down on a torn seal/ damaged seal. Other than that, tried everything else...nothing worked.

If you got a torn seal.. I dont think anything will help except replacing the seal...

 

[BobsArmory]

I have had good luck with ATP-205/Blue Devil type of products but I would never use any type of radiator coolant stop leak.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

Blue Devil has done squat for me. Still have a bottle on the shelf collecting dust. I agree, NOTHING goes into the cooling system. That problem gets fixed the right way. Friend of mind had a leaky radiator in his Dodge Valiant / Slant 6 cylinder, in the 70's. Cracked open 2 eggs and stuffed them into the radiator. It worked !!!!! I guess the yolks with all that chloresterol sealed it up. Imagine you're arteries now ....

 

[Pablo]

Hi all,

Per the topic - Whats the consensus on stop leak products? Are they in any way harmful?

Backstory - I bought a 2006 Mini Cooper S which are known to leak from small o rings situated inconveniently.

I used some stop leak as a preventative measure - which managed to stop a slight weep from the rocker cover gasket too.

I'm now thinking of using it on my more "precious" vehicles and wondering if there are any downsides (e.g increased engine wear, excessive swelling of seals).

Thoughts?

Consensus? Oh bugger me! No..........BITOG!! hahahahahaha

My opinion. Nope.

 

[gunnellett]

After reading so many positive reviews, I tried ATP-205 on my Ford Escape with a 3.0. It did nothing.

 

[JimPghPA]

I put ATP - 205 in my 1985 Olds Delta Royal Coupe that was in its final days of engine life and it did not reduce the many leaks, and may have made the low oil pressure light come on a few times. That engine went down-hill much quicker in regard to how it idled and ran after i put that in the oil.

More recently I saw a video by Lake Speed Jr. that really pointed out well how adding ANY additive to oil just totally ruins the quality of the oil. Basicly, there are no oil additives that are safe to use. Engine oil is a very carefully chemically engineered product with many man years of chemical engineering and previous knoledge, and then field testing, all put into it before its sold to the public. When you add ANY aftermarket product to it, you are throwing all that engineering and testing out the window. Different chemicals don't get along, and will destroy other properties of an oil when they are added.

Just don't do that.

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

Luqui Moly Oil Saver stopped a main seal leak on our CRV. I didnt want to deal with it so I figured it was worth a try. Not even 1 drip on the driveway anymore.

 

[OilyGuy]

I'm usually pretty anti-additive, but based on recommendations from trusted individuals I decided to give AT-205 reseal a try. It seemed to completely cure a moderate leak on my 30 year old power steering pump in a matter of hours using half the recommended dosage.

While that was my only experience with the product, it made me a believer. I wouldn't hesitate to use it in any application it's recommended for.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

It's not gonna work for every leak, nothing can possibly do that. The correct way is repair the problem, solve the leak. I happened to get lucky on my snowblower and stem seals.