Head gasket fix in a bottle?

[RunninWild]

Anyone ever tried this stuff successfully? I think I have a very slow coolant leak. When I floor the throttle around 2500rpm I get a plume of white smoke, that is only really visible at night in the mirror through headlights. I can see it on cold days as well.

I'm slowly loosing coolant. I've never noticed any puddles under the car nor is there any obvious signs of leaks in the engine bay. I got the golf towards the end of October and the coolant was a little low. I topped it up and about a week ago the low level light came back on. I finally got around to topping it up today and it took between 36-48oz (I forget how big my travel mug is, was 3 full bottles 12oz or 16oz).

Coolant/oil is clean, starts very easily even in cold weather, has plenty of power and I've personally never overheated the car, and the temp gauge is rock steady at 90c. It has 330,000km on it and consumes oil slowly as well (a couple quarts between oil changes). Fuel screw hasn't been tampered with and I'm assuming its running stock boost. It also has a bit of blowby, but nothing too excessive.

Normally I would just pull the head and replace the gasket but the tranny is going and I plan to ditch this car as soon as I rebuild the AAZ in my samurai. I overpaid for the car and I don't want to put any money into it that I dont have to.

So anyone have any experience good or bad with these products? Being what I expect is a very slow leak I'm thinking it *might* be worth a try?

[ORCoaster]

Also worth a try and cheap to do is give those headbolts a trial turn.  You might be able to squeeze it down a bit more.  Seeing as this one is history after the Samurai rises.

[RunninWild]

Yeah I was thinking that as well. Should I do 1/4 or 1/2 turn or just tighten them to 66 ft lbs?

[Rabbit79]

I've used some stuff called 'Bars Leaks' in the past for problems like that. Not sure if you're asking about something to put on the head gasket or a coolant additive, but this particular stuff goes in the coolant. Never had to use it on the v-dub, but I've used it on other things. Seems to work good.

[RunninWild]

Yeah the stuff I'm talking about is a coolant additive. I've watched a few youtube videos of different products and they seem to work pretty well

[ORCoaster]

I think I would test the existing torque to see where you are at an then give them an extra 1/4 turn.  You want to stay balanced so maybe getting them all to a good even amount based on highest one you have right now would be the way to go.  You might find two or three just 10 lbs low or something and getting them all set to the same amount may do the trick and stop the leaker.

[TylerDurden]

I have used the Bars Leaks Head gasket repair - the silver bottle that costs 25-30 usd. No need to drain, refill and all that ish. Just put it in.

Un-flucking believable... did the trick on a trashed Intrepid that would blast coolant out the expansion tank after running for ten minutes. I think it needed another dose after a year.

YMMV, of course.

[erichvw]

Stretch bolts are used here so I'd be surprised if you can apply any extra torque on those bolts before snapping them off. I would just live with it since your leak is so slow.  Not worth fixing IMO


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[RunninWild]

Yeah I was thinking that about the bolts as well.

Good to know that stuff works though I might try it. Its such a minor leak I don't think it will have issues fixing it if it helps with severe problems.

[fatmobile]

Nahhh, you can retorque them using a beam-style torque wrench.
 Back them off a little and retorque until the ft lbs stop climbing.
 Once the bolts start to stretch the ft lbs won't go higher,.. that's about 90ftlbs..
 Just take them to the stretch point.


White smoke only happens when you rev it.
Get clear fuel lines there's a chance you have a fuel line restriction and will see air in the fuel.
Coolant leak doesn't cause white smoke,.. no vacuum to pull coolant into the cylinders like a gasser.

[Alleslowbuged]

I have used the Bars Leaks Head gasket repair - the silver bottle that costs 25-30 usd. No need to drain, refill and all that ish. Just put it in.

Un-flucking believable... did the trick on a trashed Intrepid that would blast coolant out the expansion tank after running for ten minutes. I think it needed another dose after a year.

YMMV, of course.

Hi,

the stuff is really impressive, i have used it serveral times and it worked really good. Two times - issue solved, otherwise keep the car running for more than one additionally year, to be prepared for the real repair. If i would shedule to drive through the sahara, i would have some bottles with me.

Best regards
 

[RabbitJockey]

there is some really good stuff that is used to fix the subaru headgasket issues, that you just pour in.  maybe thats what you guys are talking about

[bvolks73]

I used this stuff in my '05 Neon to buy me some time until I could find another motor. It worked great for about 15,000 km until the motor died from an unrelated issue.
http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/rislone-head-gasket-fix-0380847p.html

[burn_your_money]

I just bought some Bar's 1111 for my van. Hopefully it works. It's an 08 Uplander.

[tomm2381]

I've tried bars leak on a VW diesel and it does not work.  Sorry.  It may work on gasoline engines, but on a diesel there's too much compression . . .

Head gasket change out isn't too difficult.