`stop leak`oil additive.does it work?

hogggman · Post by **hogggman** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 2:35 pm

hi,
i should write a daily report on my bongo!
i have the infamous`trade sale`£2,000 s reg 2.5 v6 petrol bongo,and have had various minor problems which i`m working through one at a time.
it was very tappety,but after flushing and changing the oil there was no change,but then i used wynn`s hydraulic valve lifter treatment,which,after a blast down the A52 at 80mph,seems to have quietened things down a bit.the only other issue i have at present is an `oily`smell.a bit like burning oil really.i think i have a leaking rocker cover gasket,as 3 spark plugs have oil collecting around them.i don`t know how long this has been collecting there,so i can`t say at present how bad the leak is.i certainly can`t see it as i watch when the engine is running.
i have two options,either change the rocker cover gasket,and i have no idea how big that job is,or to use an additive like `stop leak` to see if i can cure this.
does anyone have any experience of the additives,and do they work at all?
thankyou
jamie

francophile1947 · Post by **francophile1947** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 3:55 pm

Never tried it cos' I've always been concerned that anything that blocks leaks could also block oil ways - maybe I'm too cautious!!
Rocker cover gaskets are normally very easy to do, but I've never even seen the V6 engine.

nfn · Post by **nfn** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 4:17 pm

I have never had much luck with oil stop-leak treatments in my various old bangers. Cooling system stop-leak treatments can work well for small leaks -- I once had a leaking water pump on a van, and bought a vial of what looked like glitter to put in the radiator. It fixed the leak permanently.

I would recommend changing the rocker cover gasket.

lizard · Post by **lizard** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 6:44 pm

Hi

Are these any good for Bongo cooling systems

francophile1947 · Post by **francophile1947** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 6:52 pm

lizard wrote:Hi

Are these any good for Bongo cooling systems

Are what any good???? Certainly not stuff to stop oil leaks

lizard · Post by **lizard** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 7:25 pm

nfn wrote:I have never had much luck with oil stop-leak treatments in my various old bangers. Cooling system stop-leak treatments can work well for small leaks -- I once had a leaking water pump on a van, and bought a vial of what looked like glitter to put in the radiator. It fixed the leak permanently.

I would recommend changing the rocker cover gasket.

This for stoping leaks. (coolant)

francophile1947 · Post by **francophile1947** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 8:29 pm

Oh yeah

- should've read it all

I've tried Radweld and it worked for small leaks.

lizard · Post by **lizard** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 9:41 pm

Thanks

Never mind

I have senior moments more times than I care to mention. Damn I have just mentioned them.

Might try some radweld at some point for a few small leaks.

nfn · Post by **nfn** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 9:49 pm

Given that cooling system leaks can have particularly serious consequences in bongos and other alloy-headed vehicles, it's better to find and fix leaks rather than using Radweld and similar stop-leak products. I don't understand how Radweld works -- I assume it coats every surface with something. I've used the central heating stop-leak at home which was also very effective, and basically the same stuff I assume.

francophile1947 · Post by **francophile1947** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 10:03 pm

It works in the same way that platelets in the blood stop you bleeding - small particles gradually bridge the hole until the leak stops. That's why it's no good on large holes.

dandywarhol · Post by **dandywarhol** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 12:39 am

As you've temporarily "fixed" the tappet noise by bunging in some thick oil I'd be inclined to stop messing about with bodges and replace the cam cover gasket. At the same time you can see how badly worn the valve gear is that's causing the tappet noise

Mr Halibut · Post by **Mr Halibut** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 9:31 am

Surely it would just block your oil filter up, the same happens with a lot of these oil additives containing PTFE that claim to fix issues with poor running.

I heard cracking an egg into your cooling system fixes small leaks

lizard · Post by **lizard** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 8:53 pm

I am confused now, shall I buy radweld or eggs.

francophile1947 · Post by **francophile1947** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 9:00 pm

lizard wrote:I am confused now, shall I buy radweld or eggs.

Eggs - they taste much better (I assume!?!?

)

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 9:06 pm

Cracking an egg into the radiator will actually work,even if you have punctured the rad with a screwdriver! (mythbusters).

Surely radweld/eggs/or whatever is only a temporary fix though?

I'd consider it a warning that i should save up for a new radiator.