Bar's leak

[lyndon sharpton]

what is the best type of Bar's leak to use? there is like 2-3 cans what do you guys use?

[Dick W.]

Re: Bar's leak

Bar's leak, at best, is just a short term fix. Besides it can actually stop up radiator cores. All the pellets do not disolve. Over the years I have torn down several motors for rebuild and found pellets undisolved in the water jackets.

Several years ago I owned a radiator repair shop. It was amazing to see how clogged cores were with various sealers. I had one radiator from a car that the owner had used SIX containers of AluminaSeal (sp) trying to correct a leaking head gasket. Chart called for a minimum of 21 gpm flow. This radiator had less than 4 gpm flow. Most sealers see the flow through the tubes as leaks and try to seal them.

Go ahead and repair the leak you have properly and get it over with.

[lyndon sharpton]

Re: Bar's leak

I dont want to it is my heater control valve, and it is a big block with air. if it was a small block I would that, thing I can not even see it that good even from under the car. I am just looking for a short term fix, untill I feel like fooling with it. some times, most times I hate BB cars to work on.

[Jim T.]

Re: Bar's leak

In the owners manual of my 96 LT4 and also the service manual it states to use a GM part number for pellets when the coolant is changed. My 96 Monte Carlo also has the same GM part number to be used with coolant change.
The 96 LT4 has never leaked but the Monte Carlo has a little story about leaks.
The previous owner of the 96 Monte Carlo, a co-worker had the coolant changed at the the Chev dealership. I bought the Monte knowing that the co-worker told me it was loosing coolant but nothing was ever on the ground. I removed the oil before I bought it to verify it was not in the pan. Bought it, changed the coolant using distilled water and the factory recommended anti-freeze, DEX-COOL. I also added the pellets, Bar's Leak sells the same pellets in a blister pack, I believe they manufacture them for GM as well. The water leak in the Monte stopped, not immediately or that day. The Monte has the smaller V6. I will continue to put the pellets in when I change the coolant, just like the owners manual says. My son had a 96 Windstar that was loosing coolant and ruining the 4 oxygen sensors. I told him lets try a can a Bar's and see what happens. Used the liquid black stuff. Put it in just as he was leaving to return home, a 300 mile trip. His leakage stopped during the trip home because he never had to add any more coolant to the overflow tank.

[Jim T.]

Re: Bar's leak

Lyndon your 71 is like my 70, heater valve is easier to get to if you just remove the side grille for access. One nut from underneath and two screws on the grille.

[Mike M.]

Re: Bar's leak

the heater control valves rarely leak but if your is in fact leaking, its replacemnt shouldn't take more than an hour or so. there is a horseshoe clip that retains the valve to its bracket . simple unhook the heater hoses, the vac hose and pull the hoprseshoe clip. i'd check the heater hoses for leaks where they insert on the valve and the heater core inlet and outlet.you coulod also bypass the valve as a temp fix. i agree wtih dickie in that sealers tend to clog coolant systems and god knows a mark 4 with c-60 aren't the coolest running vettes. good luck, mike

[Mike McKown]

Re: Bar's leak

I've used the Barrs pellets. Once on a heater core that broke loose and caused a flood inside the cab of my truck. It stopped that leak instantly and held until I got rid of the truck 10 years and two engine changes later. Another bottle of the stuff got me ten extra years out of the radiator in my '65. The next bottle stopped it up.

That said, why not stick a couple of wooden dowels in your heater hoses just in front of the heater core to seal it off? Or disconnect the hoses from the engine or the core, or, just loop in a section of tubing at the core on the hoses.

[Terry M.]

Re: Bar's leak

Chevrolet put those pellets in the 1994-`1996 B-bodies (Caprice, Roadmaster, and Impala) with L99 and LT1. The number of those cars with clogged heater cores or heater hose restrictors is very high. Best long-term service for those cars is to clean out that garbage as best one can, and keep the coolant fresh.
On the other hand I have used them in a FWD A-body with 3.1 L V6 -- an engine prone to cylinder case deck cracks - with great success. I have to admit that is a car I wouldn't mind sending to the junk yard if it died. I just don't care about it, but it is like the energizer *****.

[John H.]

Re: Bar's leak

Every car and truck built by the Big 3 in the U.S. for the last 40 years has had two Bar's pellets dropped in the radiator at the coolant fill operation in the assembly plants; they're popularly known in the plants as "rabbit turds".

[Mike McKown]

"Dog Turds" *NM*

[Dick W.]

Re: Bar's leak

Two yes, but not 50 or so that is in the jar that you buy at Wally World

[Wayne K.]

If two is good fifty has to be better. *NM*

[Dick W.]

Re: If two is good fifty has to be better.

50 is better to stop up the tubes in the radiator. When I had the radiator shop we used a powdered product called "Radiator Helper". Only place I have ever seen it is a radiator supply warehouse.

Took about 2 table spoons on the powder and dropped it into the top tank. To air hose and blew it into the tubes. Would give a little more life to a marginal radiator.

[Michael S.]

Re: If two is good fifty has to be better.

If you are ever on the road and spring a leak, houshold pepper works well to get going for a while to get to the radiator shop.

So stop at the first McDonalds you see and get some free stop leak!