The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest Bars stop leak

Anyone ever use the stuff? Does it work for a very small leak on a non pressurized coolant system ?

Used it years ago on a Mini Cooper got me out of trouble till I got new radiator

45 some years back I used a stop leak in an emergency to repair a leak. In days my pump gummed up and the system started over heating. I blamed the stop leak (do not remember the brand). But years later I had a issue on an old land cruiser with a head gasket again in an emergency I used some Bars, put 20k miles on it with out issues.

Being a stickler for doing it right I prefer to fix the issues with repair then patch but sometimes things call for patches first.

As for your non-pressurized system as well as how the BARS functions in the system take a look at the link.
http://www.barsleaks.net/product/bars-leaks-stop-leaks-pellets/

If you select the red "HOW DOES RHIZEX WORK" you will find a open air tin can experiment that would be like a open system.

One of my old HIT-N-MISS engines had a few pin leaks in the water hopper, BARS did a nice job on sealing those.

No body uses Black Pepper anymore?

Back in 2004 I went on a elk hunt in Northern Arizona. We took my '93 Toyota T100 4x4 and both my partner and I shot elk. On our way back home to California we stopped in Williams to pick up the cut and wrapped meat from my partners elk, and had my fresh meat in the back of the truck. As I pulled up to the butcher shop I noticed steam coming from the exhaust of my truck. These 3 liter V6 engines were notorious for leaking head gaskets, and mine had been replaced on recall a year before. So here we are, 450 miles from home, with the meat from two elk in the back of the truck. I drive to the local auto parts store and get a bottle of Bars leak and pour it in the radiator, and top off the water. I drive the truck around the Williams loop and the steam stops. We drive home to Calif. with no problems. AND, I am still driving my T100 and it has been golden ever since. After 11 years, maybe I'll add another bottle of Bars? ****Believe it or not!!!****

After looking at whats in the bottle of Bars, I would not put that in anything. I have had great luck with silver stallion. Basically it looks like silver pepper. I have seen it called other names as well, but it comes in a plastic container that looks like a roll of quarters. We used to sell it & use it in our gas station in the early 80's. worked every time.

I used Bars Stop Leak to stop a leaky 5 inch crack in the water jacket in a 52 216. I put 20,000 miles on it without issue.
Carl

50 years ago when roads were rough and trucks vibrated a lot we were constantly plagued with leaks. Bars with the standard fix and we never ruined anything. Back in those days the stuff came in glass bottles and we always carried a couple of bottles. Later on we started carrying Alumaseal. Both products worked well and I wouldn't be afraid to use them today. Since we went to all aluminum radiators on our trucks we just don't have leaks. Occasionally a heater core will leak. We turn off the water filter, put in a couple of doses of Alumaseal and go until we have time to replace the heater core.

Well, went to my favorite NAPA store, picked up a pack of 6 Bars Stop Leak tablets, crushed 'em, dissolved in water, and put it in the rad. Was really apprehensive about putting that "mud" in my fresh rebuild but my hat is off to Bars, within 2 miles the leak was absolutely gone. Saved me a lot of work removing and resealing the waterpump. No doubt most of this "stuff" will remain suspended or settle out in the cooling system but it is nowhere near what I cleaned out of the system during rebuild. Thanks for all the comments and suggestions. END OF STORY