Bars Leaks, been around since landys were invented.

[sumo]

Just curious to know what the general opinion of the old bars leak product is? Why i ask is i've had a couple of 700km trips with the landy in the last fortnight and on returning from the first one i noticed the bloody P Gasket had a slight weep, not long since i replaced it:mad: Any how i had to pick up a caravan on second trip so i put in a tin of bars leak and took off, travelled about 350ks unladen picked up van (1.6 ton) and headed back home same distance, all went well, got home home no leaks did not get hot, which was my main concern as to wether this stuff interferes with the coolant in any way, the coolants gone all milky looking !! but shes running like a pearler:)

They say on the tin add every 10,000KS So what do you reckon??.

Cheers Sumo:D

[gumby190]

I had an old Kingswood that survived on this stuff & made weekly trips to Oberon for years, stuff never gave me any grief.

[strangy]

Yeah the old Bars works a treat on most small leaks.
My preference has and always will be, to fix the problem properly. But this also depends on the plans and attitude you have for vehicle in the future. This stuff won't do any long term damage and the formula apparently has inhibitor in it.

For me it would always be a temporary thing, but I had a 65 corona which had a myriad of leaks and continued for some years after with this stuff in it, never ran hot, just wore out by itself in the end.

I wouldnt count on it to go bush,but probably fine if around town for a while.

[waynep]

A mate used in in his 80 Series Cruiser and claimed it swelled and softened all his hoses and stuffed his water pump. Cost big $. Now I can't verify that but would like to know if it is possible the product can have that effect.

[numpty]

We used a product called CarGo Sealup in Leon, (recommended by a radiator repair place). It's copper particles in suspension, and when used according to instructions is claimed to even seal cracked heads (within reason I'm sure) Not expensive either and is available in Repco.

Reason we used it was we had a radiator leak and the engine would overheat. They're aren't many places that repair genuine, original radiators, so this product was tried and to date has been ultra successful. I would stress that you must follow the instructions implicitly, which involves flushing properly.

[RobHay]

Read 'Nautilus Ninety North' The book written by the Captain of the first US Navy Nuclear submarine, on their shake down cruise (which was ultra secret) they had a leak in their cooling system for their reactor which they could not find, They surfaced at night off a town in South America and a couple of sailors went ashore in civilian clothing and bought up the towns supply of Bars Stop Leak which they promptly tipped into their system....no more leak, Upon return to base a strip down of the system could not find any sign of a leak.......The 'Nautilus' then went on to go under the northpole icecap........so yeah I reckon it is good stuff. I use it.

[lokka]

We used a product called CarGo Sealup in Leon, (recommended by a radiator repair place). It's copper particles in suspension, and when used according to instructions is claimed to even seal cracked heads (within reason I'm sure) Not expensive either and is available in Repco.

Reason we used it was we had a radiator leak and the engine would overheat. They're aren't many places that repair genuine, original radiators, so this product was tried and to date has been ultra successful. I would stress that you must follow the instructions implicitly, which involves flushing properly.

Yep im with you on this one numpty i have used this in plenty of different vehicles and have had huge wins with it tho you have to follow the instructions to the letter and its sealed up sliped liners in a rover also id say when ron P38a reads this he will also put his 2 bobs worth in as we have both discussed this stuff in the past on here :D:D:D:D

[CraigE]

It does work well and as intended, but if you happen to pull down a radiator after use it does leave some sludgy residue, which in the long term can cause problems. I have seen this first hand in an old HQ I had used it in.

[Dougal]

A mechanic I know swears by using ground pepper. But I've never tried it.
He claims it flushes out very easily and completely, unlike the stop-leak products he's tried.

[loanrangie]

My BIL has an 80 LC 4.5 on lpg that did a head gasket about 6 months ago, he used an egg white and pepper mix and its still going strong and using no coolant :o. He is a mechanic but building a new house and running a business that sees him drive all over vic/nsw/qld means he didnt have time to repair it properly.

[strangy]

A mechanic I know swears by using ground pepper. But I've never tried it.
He claims it flushes out very easily and completely, unlike the stop-leak products he's tried.

I can vouch for the pepper trick also.
father in law used it for a leaky radiator and hasnt changed it. Always carries some in his tool kit. Not sure if it works with coolant though.

[DEFENDERZOOK]

i miss read the title to this thread.........

i thought it said.......Bars Leaks, been around because landys were in vented..........

[CraigE]

My BIL has an 80 LC 4.5 on lpg that did a head gasket about 6 months ago, he used an egg white and pepper mix and its still going strong and using no coolant :o. He is a mechanic but building a new house and running a business that sees him drive all over vic/nsw/qld means he didnt have time to repair it properly.
I have used a tiny bit of egg white mixed with a fair bit of pepper and it works well, but is only a temporary solution. System should be flushed and repaired properly asap unless maybe in a POS banger. Same after bars leak. Chem Weld seems to leave less residue, but does not seem to work as well as bars leak. I have known people to put bars leak in and not touch the cooling system again. Personally I would not want any residue floating around in my cooling system that may cause a blockage.
Cheers
CraigE

[loanrangie]

I have used a tiny bit of egg white mixed with a fair bit of pepper and it works well, but is only a temporary solution. System should be flushed and repaired properly asap unless maybe in a POS banger. Same after bars leak. Chem Weld seems to leave less residue, but does not seem to work as well as bars leak. I have known people to put bars leak in and not touch the cooling system again. Personally I would not want any residue floating around in my cooling system that may cause a blockage.
Cheers
CraigE

I have no personal experience with this, but he is experienced in merc/ hino/ isuzu/ mazda trucks, forklifts as well as a licensed lpg installer for almost 20 years so he knows what he's doing- plus he has about 10 vehicles or so and if it didnt work his wife would just drive something else .

[CraigE]

I have no personal experience with this, but he is experienced in merc/ hino/ isuzu/ mazda trucks, forklifts as well as a licensed lpg installer for almost 20 years so he knows what he's doing- plus he has about 10 vehicles or so and if it didnt work his wife would just drive something else .
And yep it does work, but not fixing the problem properly is not the answer either as it will fail at the worst possible moment as per Murphy's law. Mechanics are usually the worst for fixing their own vehicles as per most trades. Many of my friends are mechanics and do similar things to their own vehicles, but would never recommend it long term.
I will and have used it to get out of trouble, but that would be the limit. Would you really trust a big of egg and pepper long term. Ask him if he would do it to a customers vehicle.:o A blown head gasket in the middle of no where doe not do much for me.
Cheers
CraigE

[p38arover]

I used CarGFo Metallic Seal Up on the slipped liner and it worked well. However after it has sealed you have to flush it out as it is incompatible with glycol based coolants (I asked the manufacturer why the system had to be flushed - it turns the coolant to gel. Obviously, one has to flush before adding it.)

I also tried it on the leaking heater core. It worked whilst it was in the system but as soon as it was flushed out, the heater core leak returned.

I added Bars Leaks and that stopped the heater core leak. Even though the stuff was flushed for the new engine and radiator and not added again, the leak has not returned. Bars Leaks Cooling System Stop Leak is compatible with glycol coolants. The Block sealer is not (it is sodium silicate based like CarGo Metallic Seal Up).

See also Bar's Leaks FAQ (http://www.barsproducts.com/bars_faq.htm)

I've read a lot of negative reports but they have always been of the type "A friend of a friend used it and it damaged/blocked (etc) the system" - never first hand reports.

It appears GM and other manufacturers add Bars Leaks tablets to new cars at the factory.

[numpty]

I used CarGFo Metallic Seal Up on the slipped liner and it worked well. However after it has sealed you have to flush it out as it is incompatible with glycol based coolants (I asked the manufacturer why the system had to be flushed - it turns the coolant to gel. Obviously, one has to flush before adding it.)

IrGo Metallic Seal Up)

I have glycol based coolant/inhibitor in Leon, hence why I said (which should be obvious with any of these products) you need to follow the instructions.