chris writes:
i would like to know what the flavor of the week is.
if there's been green stuff in my van for 12 years and it's got 145k on
it, what does this mean?
i did have some dreaded dripping month ago. has gone away(bar's leak
@$2.59).
thank you in advance,chris

Chris, flavor of the week is whatever you choose, just service it every 1 or
2 years.

What does it mean?  Well, at 145K with green stuff all it's life and
previous dripping cured by Bars-leak, I'd say you could be close to an
engine teardown.  Your coolant leak could have been a simple hose leak which
is better to replace on a 12 year old vehicle or a head gasket leak which
can appear as colder weather arrives.  The green stuff isn't necessarily bad
for your engine if serviced each year or 2.  I would never try and cure a
coolant leak in the van's system with sealant-in-a-bottle; this begs for
more problems down the road like radiator and heat exchanger clogging,
remember the oil cooler is an exchanger as well.  My understanding is the
dealer service coolant is the blue autobahn coolant.  I use Prest#ne orange
but will drain it at least yearly with or without my control.  I think many
owners have a preference of coolant and opinions vary but the bottom line is
service at least every 2 years consisting of full drain and a helpful flush.

Now your engine might last another 80,000 miles if serviced properly or it
might overheat next summer, who knows.
I'd start with a coolant flush and change to the color of your liking,
noting any coolant leaks and repairing PROPERLY.  If your engine is dripping
at the head gasket, R&R sooner than later and quit adding stop-leak to your
coolant system.  A new radiator and heat exchangers are expensive.
You might take note of any rises in engine temperature next spring and
summer compared to previous season; that Bars-leak has caused many cooling
systems to diminish effectiveness including mine when I didn't know better.

JB

'89 Wolfsburg Carats-prest#ne orange in both, one is on second engine due to
copious amounts of Bars-leak by PO
'82 MB 240D-prest#ne green at 210,000 miles although MB wants me to buy
expensive MB coolant
'98 Subaru Outback-expensive subie orange coolant
'66 Lincoln convertible-prest#ne green at 258,000