Oil additive for small leaks?

[nesslar]

I wouldn't just jump at pouring anything but good oil into my 911, but what is the concensus on additives like CD2 (sp?) at a one pint infusion for stopping minor leaks at somewhat older gaskets, other than at my valve covers, which are rather new? Bad idea, worth a try, or just bad stuff? Lar

[WERK I]

IMHO, a very bad idea.
Keep in mind the valve train, namely the oil spray bars that spray oil onto the valve train. These are very small orifices and any additive that may affect the volume of oil sprayed could have catastrophic consequences to the lobes, rockers and valve guides.

[RWebb]

no no no no no nono nonononononono

NO!

[Gogar]

No.

[GH85Carrera]

Bad idea.

[Porsche_monkey]

Uhhhh....no.

Nothing good can come of this.

[dshepp806]

NOPE,..notta'......playing with (expensive) fire....

Please step away,....

Best,

Doyle

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

No, no and no is good advice, but further to that, stop-leak/bars-leak oil or water additives simply transport fibrous or clotting media to the site of the leak that does a reasonably good job of filling and plugging the leak, but does exactly the same thing everywhere else in the engine where's there's a small hole to creep into (to them resembling a leak) and blocking it. Like tiny oil galleries...

[aigel]

Stop oil leak additives are not to be confused with stop coolant leak additives: Stop oil additives do not have particles or fibers etc. to clog leaks. Stop oil additives usually have a component that makes the oil seals swell. These additives work for a while, but then the seals either crumble back to their old self or swell so far out of shape that they leak again. The other component you may find in a stop oil leak additive is something that makes the oil more viscous. This will also slow leaks but of course at the expense of increased wear.

Both the tricks employed in "mechanic in a can" oil seal products are not worth your time or money. The only thing I would use it on would be an old clunker that I expected not to keep for much longer anyway. This usually does not describe a Porsche 911.

Cheers,

George

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

Thanks, George, didn't know that.

[alniki]

I used a can of Bardahl engine stop leak in my 3.2 about 1000 miles ago, no leak at present and the engine runs well. YMMV and I'll be glad to have a rebuild if that minor leak reappears.

Bardahl 'Engine Stop Leak'