I have a 2006 Honda Odyssey with 125,000 miles and a leak in the rear main seal. I have used both rear main seal repairs from Bar's and No Leak. They both plugged the leak, but I have to use it at every oil change. I was wondering if I would get the same results if I started using a high mileage oil. I know the easiest thing to do is to just try one of them out and see. I was just hoping to hear some opinions and experiences on the subject matter. Thanks.
Will High Mileage oils seal leaks?
- Thread starter termigator
- Start date
- Status
If the products you use are working try using them just once a year.
Do Bars and No Leak guarantee these products to NOT plug an oil filter?
Do Bars and No Leak guarantee these products to NOT plug an oil filter?
Your not pouring form-a-gasket in your engine. Your slowing a leak using an oil thickening additive, swelling old shrunken seals with a seal swelling additive, or both. When you stop using a seal swell additive, the seal shrinks back to where it was and the leak returns. Whether its a separate additive or part of HM oil, this will happen if you stop using it. Because seal swelling is not permanent, only lasts as long as a swelling additive is in use. May be less hassle and cheaper cost to use a HM oil that already has a seal sweller as part of its additive pack.
A high mileage oil like MaxLife will slow, and even stop, most leaks. Some have reported that it might take a few OCI's though...
Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
Your not pouring form-a-gasket in your engine. Your slowing a leak using an oil thickening additive, swelling old shrunken seals with a seal swelling additive, or both. When you stop using a seal swell additive, the seal shrinks back to where it was and the leak returns. Whether its a separate additive or part of HM oil, this will happen if you stop using it. Because seal swelling is not permanent, only lasts as long as a swelling additive is in use. May be less hassle and cheaper cost to use a HM oil that already has a seal sweller as part of its additive pack.
I thought HM oil contained seal "conditioners" rather than seal "swellers". As I understand the difference, conditioners maintain and restore a seal's pliability while swellers actually make it larger. Swellers can be problematic as they also swell seals that don't need it. Conditioners just try to make the condition of the seal more like it was when new. All oils contain conditioners, HM oils just have more. I think...
Your not pouring form-a-gasket in your engine. Your slowing a leak using an oil thickening additive, swelling old shrunken seals with a seal swelling additive, or both. When you stop using a seal swell additive, the seal shrinks back to where it was and the leak returns. Whether its a separate additive or part of HM oil, this will happen if you stop using it. Because seal swelling is not permanent, only lasts as long as a swelling additive is in use. May be less hassle and cheaper cost to use a HM oil that already has a seal sweller as part of its additive pack.
I thought HM oil contained seal "conditioners" rather than seal "swellers". As I understand the difference, conditioners maintain and restore a seal's pliability while swellers actually make it larger. Swellers can be problematic as they also swell seals that don't need it. Conditioners just try to make the condition of the seal more like it was when new. All oils contain conditioners, HM oils just have more. I think...
not as well as just replacing the gaskets
Valvoline specifically states "seal conditioners". According to one of their tech people, they don't use seal "swellers".
Also, there was a former XOM sales guy on here who said a lot of good things about Valvoline's seal conditioners. I think they make the best HM oils on the market. They do work.
Also, there was a former XOM sales guy on here who said a lot of good things about Valvoline's seal conditioners. I think they make the best HM oils on the market. They do work.
Maxlife helped a little on my 01 Escape with 190k, but I decided just to get it fixed, because its still a good car. A thousand dollars later it no longer leaks (2 leaks). If you are going to keep the car I would say go ahead and repair if you can afford it.
The Taxi has just finished an OCI on Maxlife 10w40 Diesel synth blend and when I was under there it was certainly a lot drier than the last time I was under there.
That time it was running a Q8 synth put in by a Taxi specialist.
I will see in about 6/8 weeks if there is more leakage with Mobil 1 0w40.
That time it was running a Q8 synth put in by a Taxi specialist.
I will see in about 6/8 weeks if there is more leakage with Mobil 1 0w40.
Originally Posted By: Thax
Try Blue Devil rear main seal leak , ive used it in the tribute in my sig and it saved having to do a expensive repair.
Tried it because they claimed it would fix the seal permanently. Didn't work. Still leaked after running the car for 400 miles.
I would love to just get it fixed, but it's just not in the cards right now.
Try Blue Devil rear main seal leak , ive used it in the tribute in my sig and it saved having to do a expensive repair.
Tried it because they claimed it would fix the seal permanently. Didn't work. Still leaked after running the car for 400 miles.
I would love to just get it fixed, but it's just not in the cards right now.
Is your PCV system in order? Lots of rear main leaks turn out to be excessive crankcase pressure.
Originally Posted By: termigator
Originally Posted By: Thax
Try Blue Devil rear main seal leak , ive used it in the tribute in my sig and it saved having to do a expensive repair.
Tried it because they claimed it would fix the seal permanently. Didn't work. Still leaked after running the car for 400 miles.
I would love to just get it fixed, but it's just not in the cards right now.
Thats unfortunate , sounds like there is no option other than replacing the seal then. Sometimes the only option is a hard part repair.
Originally Posted By: Thax
Try Blue Devil rear main seal leak , ive used it in the tribute in my sig and it saved having to do a expensive repair.
Tried it because they claimed it would fix the seal permanently. Didn't work. Still leaked after running the car for 400 miles.
I would love to just get it fixed, but it's just not in the cards right now.
Thats unfortunate , sounds like there is no option other than replacing the seal then. Sometimes the only option is a hard part repair.
Originally Posted By: Danh
Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
Your not pouring form-a-gasket in your engine. Your slowing a leak using an oil thickening additive, swelling old shrunken seals with a seal swelling additive, or both. When you stop using a seal swell additive, the seal shrinks back to where it was and the leak returns. Whether its a separate additive or part of HM oil, this will happen if you stop using it. Because seal swelling is not permanent, only lasts as long as a swelling additive is in use. May be less hassle and cheaper cost to use a HM oil that already has a seal sweller as part of its additive pack.
I thought HM oil contained seal "conditioners" rather than seal "swellers". As I understand the difference, conditioners maintain and restore a seal's pliability while swellers actually make it larger. Swellers can be problematic as they also swell seals that don't need it. Conditioners just try to make the condition of the seal more like it was when new. All oils contain conditioners, HM oils just have more. I think...
That's what I thought for the longest time too. But I have since changed that view. Partly on personal experience, partly on research. Here's what I think, take it for what its worth. Because we don't know what High Mileage oil "conditioner" really means and what makes it different from the conditioner in a regular oil.
I've been on and off HM oils with leakers and oil burners for several years. External leaks always return when I stop using HM oil. Not immediately but gradually over the course of a subsequent oil change. Something wears off. The generic claim is High Mileage Oil has a special "seal conditioner" that makes old hard rubber soft and pliable again. If that's all there is to it then why does the leak gradually return within 3-5k miles when I stop using HM oil? Would think "soft and pliable again" is more of a permanent fix and seals should not become hard and brittle almost right away.
There has to be more to it. All modern motor oils have some level of conditioner, why isn't that enough? Researching rubber gaskets there is a natural aging called "outgassing". A hardening and shrinking process as rubber loses the chemicals that make it porous and flexible. Can a conditioner reverse the aging process, put the chemicals that caused the outgassing/hardening/shrinking back? Don't see how that's possible. Can a conditioner prevent a future leak? Maybe slow the aging process but its still going to leak eventually.
What else is in a HM oil seal conditioner that stops leaks a regular motor oil seal conditioner can't? Sweller is a scary word as indicated by your reply. Conditioner is a word that doesn't scare people, sounds like a good thing. The word corporate marketing would choose. Mobil 1 High Mileage claims a "Seal conditioner to help prevent leaks and reduce oil consumption". If you go to Mobil 1's website they actually use the word sweller and swells on the website FAQ. Maxlife uses words like "special seal conditioners" and "seal conditioning agents". On the Valvoline Maxlife FAQ you find the phrase "stop leak additives". Pennzoil High Mileage uses "special conditioning agents and additives to help stop leaks from seals and reduce the oil consumption that is typical of older, worn engines". Tap dancing? Misleading? All the jargon makes me suspicious. Only one uses the word, but IMO a swelling agent is in use with all of them.
Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
Your not pouring form-a-gasket in your engine. Your slowing a leak using an oil thickening additive, swelling old shrunken seals with a seal swelling additive, or both. When you stop using a seal swell additive, the seal shrinks back to where it was and the leak returns. Whether its a separate additive or part of HM oil, this will happen if you stop using it. Because seal swelling is not permanent, only lasts as long as a swelling additive is in use. May be less hassle and cheaper cost to use a HM oil that already has a seal sweller as part of its additive pack.
I thought HM oil contained seal "conditioners" rather than seal "swellers". As I understand the difference, conditioners maintain and restore a seal's pliability while swellers actually make it larger. Swellers can be problematic as they also swell seals that don't need it. Conditioners just try to make the condition of the seal more like it was when new. All oils contain conditioners, HM oils just have more. I think...
That's what I thought for the longest time too. But I have since changed that view. Partly on personal experience, partly on research. Here's what I think, take it for what its worth. Because we don't know what High Mileage oil "conditioner" really means and what makes it different from the conditioner in a regular oil.
I've been on and off HM oils with leakers and oil burners for several years. External leaks always return when I stop using HM oil. Not immediately but gradually over the course of a subsequent oil change. Something wears off. The generic claim is High Mileage Oil has a special "seal conditioner" that makes old hard rubber soft and pliable again. If that's all there is to it then why does the leak gradually return within 3-5k miles when I stop using HM oil? Would think "soft and pliable again" is more of a permanent fix and seals should not become hard and brittle almost right away.
There has to be more to it. All modern motor oils have some level of conditioner, why isn't that enough? Researching rubber gaskets there is a natural aging called "outgassing". A hardening and shrinking process as rubber loses the chemicals that make it porous and flexible. Can a conditioner reverse the aging process, put the chemicals that caused the outgassing/hardening/shrinking back? Don't see how that's possible. Can a conditioner prevent a future leak? Maybe slow the aging process but its still going to leak eventually.
What else is in a HM oil seal conditioner that stops leaks a regular motor oil seal conditioner can't? Sweller is a scary word as indicated by your reply. Conditioner is a word that doesn't scare people, sounds like a good thing. The word corporate marketing would choose. Mobil 1 High Mileage claims a "Seal conditioner to help prevent leaks and reduce oil consumption". If you go to Mobil 1's website they actually use the word sweller and swells on the website FAQ. Maxlife uses words like "special seal conditioners" and "seal conditioning agents". On the Valvoline Maxlife FAQ you find the phrase "stop leak additives". Pennzoil High Mileage uses "special conditioning agents and additives to help stop leaks from seals and reduce the oil consumption that is typical of older, worn engines". Tap dancing? Misleading? All the jargon makes me suspicious. Only one uses the word, but IMO a swelling agent is in use with all of them.
Originally Posted By: HerrStig
Is your PCV system in order? Lots of rear main leaks turn out to be excessive crankcase pressure.
Not sure what the PCV system is. Can you explain? I was told it was a rear main seal leak by a mechanic I trust.
Is your PCV system in order? Lots of rear main leaks turn out to be excessive crankcase pressure.
Not sure what the PCV system is. Can you explain? I was told it was a rear main seal leak by a mechanic I trust.
- Status
Similar threads
