I've used both Bars leak stop-leak and the head gasket repair stuff.

Both work. And, both are not anything near a permanent fix. However, here
are my experiences:

1) My 1983 diesel Vanagon has a small leak in the radiator. I put in a
tube (or two?) of Bars Leak, and it stopped leaking. I forgot about it
until a year later, when it let loose and was a huge leak. Replaced the
radiator at that point.

2) In a 1986 2.1 WBX, one of the head gaskets were leaking. Didn't want to
do (or pay for) that job at the time. So, I used the Head Gasket repair
stuff. That involves draining the coolant, etc. But, it held for over a
year. And, when it stopped holding, the time was perfect to pay to have
the job done right.

So, give it a shot. I'd certainly do it. It's not magic stuff, but it can
work, and work well. YMMV.

Jon

On Wed, 16 Sep 2009, B Feddish wrote:

> Soooo... Last winter I got in my van and started to drive, the heat took 15
> minutes to start going. That only meant 1 thing, there was not enough
> coolant. I've been very diligent over the years keeping an air free system
> and have enjoyed a temp gauge that never, even on hot days idling, went more
> than a hair past the led. After putting in about 2 cups of water and
> bleeding the system I was back to normal and the heat worked fine. A few
> weeks later the top coolant tank was a cup or two low. Figured I have a slow
> leak somewhere but since I planned to have the engine rebuilt I could just
> keep on top of the coolant.  So all summer long I've been putting in a cup
> or so a week and I've actaully had to turn the heat on for the first time to
> cool off in traffic.  The same day my van's brakes went out I had smelled
> hot coolant for the first time when I parked so I had the mechanic search
> for leaks after fixing my brakes. He found a weeping head gasket that
> stopped leaking when hot and a weeping water pump.  OK, I plan on a late
> fall rebuild for the engine BUT my question is should I throw some Bars
> Leaks in there for my fall trips? I've got a 300 mile round trip to MD for
> Pony Pitch next weekend and a few short hops like "Buses by the Depot". The
> van is also a 2 day a week daily driver. Being that I'll probably only put
> another 1000 miles on before the rebuild I'm debating whether to do the stop
> leak or not.
>
>
> Bryan
>