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Sun Mar 05, 2006 7:28 am

I have a head gasket leak and my independant VW mechanic suggested I try Bars stop leak. I am willing to try a cheap fix, unless it may cause more problems than I have already. Has anyone had any experience with using a stop leak product to fix a 1.9 liter waterboxer head gasket leak? I assume that if there was something that really worked, everyone would be using it.

Sun Mar 05, 2006 7:41 am

bheck wrote: I have a head gasket leak and my independant VW mechanic suggested I try Bars stop leak. I am willing to try a cheap fix, unless it may cause more problems than I have already. Has anyone had any experience with using a stop leak product to fix a 1.9 liter waterboxer head gasket leak? I assume that if there was something that really worked, everyone would be using it.

I hear that subaru's stuff is worth a shot

Sun Mar 05, 2006 10:34 am

<<I have a head gasket leak and my independant VW mechanic suggested I try Bars stop leak.>>

It'll work well and without screwing up the rest of your cooling system.

I've used it for head seal leaks and it did a good job, and lasted a long time.

DO NOT USE the metallic aluminum sealer--it'll plug up your heater core's and radiator fast.

Good Luck,

Terry

Sun Mar 05, 2006 11:59 am

This is the stuff you want right here. It's getting tough to find. The way this stuff works is that it stays liquid in suspension in coolant, but if it encounters oxygen, (air), it forms a solid. I went to a few demonstrations for this stuff back in the 1980s and it is THE ONLY stuff out there that will seal a leak without depositing solids elsewhere in your cooling system. Guaranteed.
Of course, you could always fix it right as well. :lol:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Wynns-Radiator-Seal...6044QQrdZ1

Sun Mar 05, 2006 1:02 pm

no to the subaru stuff then?

I got two 4.4 fluid oz bottles of subaru cooling system conditioner for $8 the other day, so i figured i'd give it a try since my head gaskets are kinda drippy... i havent put it in yet because i keep getting conflicting advice. :?

Sun Mar 05, 2006 1:11 pm

<<I got two 4.4 fluid oz bottles of subaru cooling system conditioner for $8 the other day, so i figured i'd give it a try since my head gaskets are kinda drippy...>>

A coolant system conditioner and a leak sealer are two different animals.

A conditioner probalbly keeps seal soft and pliable, and keeps the DCA levels in the collant high to prevent corrosion.

I'll say this about the Bars Leak--
Every GM aluminum engine currently produced has a bottle of Bars in it, and has been this way for some time.

I haven't heard /seen any problems with any of their coolant sytems, or heating sytems failing due to the use of the Bars Leak.

Prior to making any judgement calls I'd do some more investigating on the product.

Sun Mar 05, 2006 3:28 pm

hmm.

someone told me to get the wrong stuff then. :| oh well.

Mon Mar 06, 2006 4:44 am

When my Multi first started to drip at around 100,000 mi. I dosed it with Bars and I was able to keep running it for several more years and another 50,000 miles before I finally pulled the heads. Just don't pour it into the overflow bottle though. I have seen several vans where this was done and it will clog up the outlet. You need to pour it into the pressurized tank instead, following instructions on the can.

Using coolant conditioner religiously is a good idea. It will not stop a leak, but it may prevent one. I buy a large container from NAPA and then dose each of my cars annually. Adding a few ounces of conditioner every year is way easier to do than changing out your antifreeze and therefore far more likely to get done. My Toyota engine hasn't been apart since 1982 and I haven't replace the anitfreeze since I lost a water pump pump way back in 1990. Its antifreeze still looks new.

Mon Mar 06, 2006 8:48 am

hey Guys I have been using the subus stuff for years now and it works way better than bars leak. It will even stop a water pump from leaking. later mark Dearing

Mon Mar 06, 2006 9:01 am

hey mark-

what exactly is the subaru stuff called? I was talking to ronnie, and he directed me towards the stuff i mentioned before(i even sent him a picture to verify) but people are saying its not what i should have gotten.

Wed Oct 11, 2006 8:40 am

Terry Kay wrote: <<I have a head gasket leak and my independant VW mechanic suggested I try Bars stop leak.>>

It'll work well and without screwing up the rest of your cooling system.

I've used it for head seal leaks and it did a good job, and lasted a long time.

DO NOT USE the metallic aluminum sealer--it'll plug up your heater core's and radiator fast.

Good Luck,

Terry

Wow, this stuff sounds like a "Genie in a bottle"!!! Where can one obtain some of this macic fix?

Wed Oct 11, 2006 11:47 am

Markus,

THANKS! I get this. I really do. Yessireee......

Others,

Please see:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=198226&highlight=bars+leak

-Walt

[email protected] wrote: Terry Kay wrote: <<I have a head gasket leak and my independant VW mechanic suggested I try Bars stop leak.>>

It'll work well and without screwing up the rest of your cooling system.

I've used it for head seal leaks and it did a good job, and lasted a long time.

DO NOT USE the metallic aluminum sealer--it'll plug up your heater core's and radiator fast.

Good Luck,

Terry

Wow, this stuff sounds like a "Genie in a bottle"!!! Where can one obtain some of this macic fix?

Wed Oct 11, 2006 2:26 pm

I have never seen a VW Porsche or Audi use any stop leak without problems down the road, sometimes not far down the road. Had to clean and dissamble many a cooling system with stop leak. First thing to go is the heater core. I do understand the temptation.

Wed Oct 11, 2006 2:40 pm

the subaru "genie" in the blue bottle is much different then bars leak...one bottle will cause no harm ...if you don't see any change in the dripping after useing the subaru stuff, it may mean it is time for a head gasket repair...sooner better then later... Cat and Walter wrote: I have never seen a VW Porsche or Audi use any stop leak without problems down the road, sometimes not far down the road. Had to clean and dissamble many a cooling system with stop leak. First thing to go is the heater core. I do understand the temptation.

Wed Oct 11, 2006 3:29 pm

I hate to admit it, but I used the aluminum powder stop leak when I first got my rig. It stopped the drip, for a while. A year later while flushing the system I found most of the aluminum powder sitting in the bottom of the pressure tank, kind of relieving knowing what I know now. Next I tried the BG orange/citrus-like stuff, and I don't think it did anything. I remember reading one mechanic's quote online somewhere, went something like..."I love Vanagons (and their cooling systems), they're putting my kids through college!"

Wed Oct 11, 2006 4:27 pm

"one bottle will cause no harm"

Again experience tells me no freak'n way am I putting any kind of stop leak in my VW. If I had a Subaru I might consider it. Is this product to seal coolant leaks in the never needs anything Subaru engine? I have never wrenched on a Subaru so I am no expert on them, nor do I want to be. VW's are a different story. I have spent most of my life keeping VW's Porsche's and Audi's on the road. At every level of repair, independants and dealers alike. I do understand the temptation, just resist it because of what I know and what I have seen!

Wed Oct 11, 2006 5:34 pm

Cat and Walter wrote: I have never wrenched on a Subaru so I am no expert on them, nor do I want to be. VW's are a different story. I have spent most of my life keeping VW's Porsche's and Audi's on the road.

So it is for many of us. BUT, a good VW Master Tech friend tried the Suby conversion about 5 years ago. This guy is a 30 year VW dealer tech, too. Never again has he repaired one of his own Vanagon engines. They go Suby. He keeps a stable of about 8 other VAG products on the road too for the family. BUT, the Vanagons are not VW powered anymore.

My Vanagon runs just the way it should. For how long, I don't know. I was reminded again today just how gutless an 85 automatic Westy is. My NB TDI is off the road needing new brakes so I took the bus today. He has a Suby waiting for me now. That will up the HP by more than 50. Cost installed should be less than just the GoWesty 2.3 long block I have been eyeing. It would be on par with the 2.2 I have been thinking about building too. But those engines have less go than the same sized Suby. So now that he has a $300 engine for me, that has pushed me over the decision hump. I have seen 5+ years of almost zero maintainance Vanagon Subys. I finally have given up on the Vanagon wbx and my parts van will be leaving soon, too as I just don't need it....

Sorry for the OT and the fresh convert rambling....

Wed Oct 11, 2006 5:59 pm

If you use Bar Leak, you will buy a new water pump six months from
now!!. I know. :!:

Thu Oct 12, 2006 9:44 am

The orginalposting on the Bars leak solution was posted in March of this year.

I used the Bar's Leak Sealer and it worked on the heads.

As I mentioned in another miracle in a bottle thread I had some issues with my raditaor & heater cores after I used the Bars.

I replaced the radiator--it was plugged solid, and so were the heater cores.

Now--who has used the Blue Goo from Subaru for an extended period of time and then inspected their radiator's & heater cores?

If you have a head leak--fix it the right way, or it'll wind up costing you more n the long run replacing plugged up parts.

PS---
ALL Aluminum Flat 4's from VW DO NOT LIKE RUNNING HOT---and if you get that radiator half or totatly plugged you will be ruuning too way warm.