Yes, I know the correct approach is to replace all the seals.

I'm not ready to spend that much money yet.

My car leaks enough to leave a pretty healthy stain on the driveway, but not to the point where I have to add oil constantly.

Has anybody tried this AT-205 stuff?:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NVW1LM...I1F8QIPC60CEFK

Even that crazy "Scotty" mechanic guy on youtube says good things about it, and he doesn't strike me as the sort of guy who would pull his punches if the stuff was useless.

Opinions?

 

If you try it out, let us know if it works.

 

I absolutely HAVE tried it, and it's the only thing I've used that actually works. I stopped seepage on two HydroBoost brake systems and one LT1 RMS leak.

I also tried this on a friend's '88 Ford truck withe the 302 notorious for RMS leaks, and it solved it. However, after a few oil changes it started leaking again, and a re-treament solved it again.

For $9-10 at CarQuest or wherever you get it, it is probably worth a try.

2¢

 

The chatter suggests that the desired effect is best achieved if the motor is run for a few hours after adding it to the motor oil.

I need to finally break down and order a proper hydraulic floor jack and some stands.

I'll get that ordered, and get some pics of the current mess, and then make a run down into the valley for lunch to "wear in" the miracle juice. This sounds like fun.

 

I've just left the ATP in the crankcase until the next change. Never had a problem. It may take several days to soften the seals and slow the leak noticeably, so be patient.

 

I've got a leak in my 85. Put some in today. Let you guys know.

 

IDK about that particular product, but years ago i had a bad RMS leak in a stroker. it was so bad that it would toss oil on to one side of the exhaust under acceleration and smoke. for the heck of it, before changing the seal i tried this stuff called "bearin seal". never leaked a drop again. couldnt believe it.
http://www.gunk.ca/CAT_M1616C.asp

 

I used some in my '85. Not sure if it's the RMS or pan gasket, but it leaks. I've run it a cumulative 2 hours since adding AT-205 and am watching it. Still leaks, maybe not as much.

I'll keep an eye on it and report back....

 

The problem with these mechanics in a can is they attack the seals, causing the seal to swell, and seal the leak. There are three problems with this approach.

1. The seals harden after treatment, which means further wear causes an even larger leak eventually.

2. Note I said SEALS, plural. ALL seals in that engine are now swelled , and likely hard as a rock. Now you're looking sometime in the future of a NEW leak at another seal.

3. This means that in all likelihood, in order to undo the damage done, you'll not only need to replace the leaking rear main seal, but EVERY seal in the engine.

If it's not leaking all that badly, avoid the miracle snake oil, and fix the seal when you can afford to do it.. you'll have much fewer issues later on.

 

i dont usually expect any miracles from snake oils, but i kinda disagree with your statement Galaxie. i beat the krap out of that motor for years and it was my daily driver, never leaked a drop. maybe i got lucky, IDK?

 

Well, I certainly can't argue whether or not it worked for you, obviously it did.

But over the decades I've been fooling around with engines, I've found it to be enough of a problem to make me stay away from the stuff. As they say, your mileage may vary..

 

a lil off topic,...do you have a Galaxie?
i used to have a 68 galaxie 500 with a 302 in it. Was a fun car in the day. I bought it for $50 back in the early 80's. It was sitting for years. A chipmunk was living in the air cleaner, had it full of peanut and acorn shells, lol.

 

I owned and drove daily a 1964 Galaxie 500XL "fastback" for 18 years. Mine was Pagoda Green (Turquorise) with black interior, bucket seats, console, 289 4-barrel, and Cruise-O-Matic automatic. Bought it from the original owner with 39,000 miles on the clock, sold it for more than I paid for it with 249,000 miles showing.

I still miss that car.

 

I think it's working!

 

I ran the miracle juice for about four hours in my V-6. At this point, I can only say that it didn't seem to hurt anything so far. As fate always seems to have it, a more pressing oil leak issue, urelated to the RMS, has developed. I'm writing about that at https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tech...pan-drain.html

I promise to get back to this thread and report about the miracle juice and the RMS after I get that drain-plug issue "plugged."