i just went out and removed the exhaust manifold shroud so i could see a bit better to try to find where a small coolant leak is coming from. the coolant residue is behind the exhaust manifold from the point where the dipstick enters the crankcase on upward towards the head, mainly in the #2-#3 cylinder range. i'm fearing a blown head gasket, but the engine still runs perfectly fine, under load or at idle. is there anything else in this area that might cause a leak?

so what is everyone's opinion on bars stop-leak (or any other brand)? sometimes i see drips on the garage floor, sometimes i don't, sometimes i can smell it, every now and then i have to add coolant when suddenly my heat stops working and my temp guage skyrockets. since i'm not exactly sure where it's coming from, i was thinking of just using some stop-leak and seeing if that would cure it. if for some reason the leak gets into the combustion chamber, what will the stop-leak do then? do more damage than good?

 

they block off more than your coolant leak and ultimately cause more problems than they fix.

 

That stop leak crap shouldnt be used unless its an emergency. It causes more problems than it fixes. I have seen a few of those heads crack or have porosity right in that area. Could also have an external h/g leak, coolant leak from the water passage on the timing cover, ect ect. Best to have it looked at and fixed asap

 

Using a stop leak product is usually a good way of plugging up your heater core.

 

yeah stay away from stop leak. if you do use it, get the problem looked at asap, then when its fixed, FLUSH your cooling system really well.

 

I had that same leak on my old 4runner, it didn't really affect anything but once I noticed it I went ahead and changed the head gasket. Better safe than sorry. Plus a head gasket is only a few hour job.

I don't have experience with the stop leak stuff but why do a band-aid fix on something like your head gasket.

 

I would check the hoses and rad cap first before you fix the HG and still have a small leak.

 

I have used the transmission stop leak on my power steering pump and it worked for that.

 

stop leak is crap.

 

No, Dont Do It!!!

 

Bars leak is actually a good product. We used a small can in every new engine we would build to coat everything, works great. Yes if you put a gallon of it in it will clog up other things. Get the small jar full and try it whats it going to hurt if it works. Alot of peple say things dont work that they have never used or used right.....Im just sayin

 

i bought an 86 yota with a blown head gasket and a day later blew up my chevy the yota still ran so i bought silicone silicate at my local pharmacy and drove that truck for at least a year and had no peroblems i dont know how its doing now i sold it.but if u dont mind buying a new engine than try it u might get a while out of it.

 

it's a band-aid. one that WILL fail, and likely leave you stranded. 90% of the time, the leak is something easy to fix anyway. why not spend 10 minutes to actually FIND the problem, rather than dumping that crap in your motor.

seriously, try educating yourselves.