NINETNINEVETT

I have a small leak in my radiator and wonder if anybody has used bars stop leak. Does it work. What are the draw backs to worry about. 327/365 motor

bweaver999

Even if it stops the leak, I would not use it on a Vette. That's the stuff you try on an old beater that you want to try to keep running another year or so before the junk yard. If it really does stop the leak, it could seal things inside the engine as well that should not be clogged.

Better to keep an eye on it and add coolant as necessary until you can get the radiator repaired or replaced.

KENS78SILVERANNIV

Most people don't know how to use it correctly. They insist on dumping the whole container in the radiator. All that does it clog it up.

If you have a minor leak... where coolant is dripping very slowly... or just seeping... the stuff works miracles.

If you know how to use it.... and that means sparingly.

I'm talking about a small dash of the stuff... a bottle cap full. That's it.

It'll work.... check it out.

I've had it in my radiator 5 years.... stopped the leak in 15 minutes. Hasn't failed since.

devildog

Use it. A couple of years ago when I was freshening-up the engine in my 61, I thought I would give the radiator a good cleaning. I did and it had multiple leaks. It is the original aluminum radiator.

I used a bottle of the aluminum Bars. It plugged the multiple little leaks and have run it ever since. It will hold pressure over several days.

Joe

The original Bars is basically just wood fibers in suspension that plugs the small holes. The key is flush the excess Bars after the leak is plugged.

AZDoug

For small seep leaks.

Condensed milk.

I think that is what it is called, the real thick, gooey sweet stuff, or maybe it is evaporated milk, but I think it is condensed milk.

It will NOT clog anything, but as the stuff seeps out and the water and glycol evaporates, it leaves behind a solid but pliable plug.

Doug

jtranger

If it is a small hole it can be sealed with JB Weld.

Ironcross

Solder Seal makes a product called "Block Sealer" Thats the best there is. I sold both products [Barrs Leak] and the Block Sealer is better.

GCD1962

It's not wood fibers. It's fiber from ginger root

crw41

Bards stop leak was actually put in new engines at the factory.

If used per directions - it works fine.

JohnZ

Bar's is STILL installed in all new cars and trucks at the factory, to seal against tiny seepage leaks at hose connections; every vehicle gets two Bar's pellets at the radiator fill operation. My plant guys called them "rabbit turds".

bweaver999

Interesting, it's actually used in new cars!!!!! So is it a good idea to put a bit in when changing coolant components? Sounds like if it's good enough for the factory to have used for years it might be a good thing to do.

wmf62

if it's not leaking, don't fix it.....
Bill

avideo

and it worked great. In fact, Richard Newton, who wrote a GREAT BOOK on C4 repairs recommends it in certain types of situations. I had a small but persistent leak of several drops of cooling system fluid that dropped on my garage floor after virtually every trip in my C4. I finally put in a really small amount - about 1 oz. in my system - and the leak stopped two years ago and has not returned. And as mentioned above, this product is used in new cars as well as being a factory authorized "fix" for cooling system leaks in certain models of Cadillac and Cherolet.

NINETNINEVETT

I tried it tonight. Put in about 2 oz. ran it for about half and hour seems to work no leak. We will see what happens. Thanks for all the tips. Mike

MikeM

You guys musta' been city slickers. They're too big for rabbits. We called the "dog turds".

Biggus Blockus

Did you use the Aluminum version or the Classic (turds in a jar)?

I've used both with good results in the past.

Road machine

Just so you know... Condensed milk is what caramel is made of. Just take a can of it and throw it in boiling water for a 1/2 hour and you have a can of caramel. Just think how your engine will love that gooey caramel after the first time it gets hot.

Just to be clear... this is a very bad idea if you were serious.

GCD1962

The pellets in the liquid form are small, like rabbitt turds. The large pellets are sold dry in a plastic sleeve, I'd hardly call them dog turds, still too small !

NINETNINEVETT

Used the classic version. put a few oz and leak is gone so far. Will run it this weekend and see if it holds.