C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

what are sealer pellets?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 9, 2010 | 12:21 PM
  #1  
ChrisLT1conv's Avatar
ChrisLT1conv
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
From: Dalton Georgia
Default what are sealer pellets?

What are sealer pellets and where do I buy them? Some of you know about my o2 sensor problem. Wel so far the delphi is holding up but just incase there could be a small headgasket leak I wouldn't mind getting some of these sealer pellets.

fyi the last two o2 sensors on the right side of my 94 vette each failed after about 1k. I'm at 500 on the delphi. Someone mentioned a leaking headgasket could be to blame. My car does not run hot and it has no overheating problems
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2010 | 12:53 PM
  #2  
BADDUCK's Avatar
BADDUCK
Le Mans Master
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,642
Likes: 5
From: One day you're a Comet...the next day you're dust... Arkansas
Default

Gm has/had pellets you can add to the coolant. I don't have experience with them.

Are you seeing any leaks anywhere? any coolant in oil? I don't think I would throw stuff in the radiator without varifying a problem.
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2010 | 01:14 PM
  #3  
383vett's Avatar
383vett
Race Director
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,701
Likes: 1,667
From: moraga ca
Default

Is your car using coolant?
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2010 | 01:27 PM
  #4  
ch@0s's Avatar
ch@0s
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 9,758
Likes: 49
From: Houston Texas
Default

Originally Posted by BADDUCK
Gm has/had pellets you can add to the coolant. I don't have experience with them.

Are you seeing any leaks anywhere? any coolant in oil? I don't think I would throw stuff in the radiator without varifying a problem.
I agree pellets=band-aid
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2010 | 02:13 PM
  #5  
floridamale's Avatar
floridamale
Safety Car
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,939
Likes: 1
From: Vero Beach Florida
Default

First figure out if you have a problem. Remember if its not broke don't fix it. It's either leaking or it's not leaking peroid

Last edited by floridamale; Jul 9, 2010 at 02:15 PM.
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2010 | 02:17 PM
  #6  
SunCr's Avatar
SunCr
Le Mans Master
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 7,839
Likes: 22
From: San Diego, Ca
Default

When asbestos was removed from gaskets, GM feared that their vehicles wouldn't make it through the warranty without developing coolant leaks and they came up with the Pellets. Later, by Service Bulletin, they denied using them on the Line and instructed Dealers not to use them. Still widely available - I see them on the Counter allmost every time I walk into a Dealer's Parts Dept - they seem to do a pretty good job of mucking up the cooling system. If your O2's are failing due to a Coolant Leak, you need to check compression.
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2010 | 02:52 PM
  #7  
ChrisLT1conv's Avatar
ChrisLT1conv
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
From: Dalton Georgia
Default

I have seen no leaks in my coolant and I've detected no leaks. As far as my motor. It runs like it was built yesterday. It uses no oil no coolant nothing. I am paranoid though about the right o2 sensor. Granted the last 2 that faied were bosch and my new one is a delphi. The car ran much better with the delphi than it ever did with the boschs.
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2010 | 04:06 PM
  #8  
ChrisLT1conv's Avatar
ChrisLT1conv
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
From: Dalton Georgia
Default

I did flush my coolant though an I was wandering if I might have a right head gasket weeping so tiny that it is undetectable but enough to mess with the o2 sensor
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Corvettes to Drive Before You Die!

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Corvette & Porsche 911: How Two Icons Conquered the Last 25 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
Old Jul 9, 2010 | 04:28 PM
  #9  
pologreen1's Avatar
pologreen1
Team Owner
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 20,974
Likes: 261
Default

I used the pellets on a daily driver about 5 years ago, when I noticed a radiator leak, and seen what a PITA it was to get the radiator out.

It was $2 and has lasted 5 years, and all systems still working, so far.

(I would not do that on my vette)
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2010 | 04:49 PM
  #10  
sailorsteve's Avatar
sailorsteve
Drifting
Supporting Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,853
Likes: 8
From: Westerly RI
Default

Originally Posted by ChrisLT1conv
What are sealer pellets and where do I buy them? Some of you know about my o2 sensor problem. Wel so far the delphi is holding up but just incase there could be a small headgasket leak I wouldn't mind getting some of these sealer pellets.

fyi the last two o2 sensors on the right side of my 94 vette each failed after about 1k. I'm at 500 on the delphi. Someone mentioned a leaking headgasket could be to blame. My car does not run hot and it has no overheating problems
If you have a head gasket leak, the coolant level in the reservoir would drop. I have '92 that I believe has always used pellets, it was dealer serviced before I got it and had them, and I have continued since then, currently 87K miles. They do not seem to gunk up the radiator like BarsLeaks, etc. Those products are for clunkers and with some of them they should throw the can unopened into the radiator and hope it lodges in the leak. The pellets are in most auto parts stores in a pack of 6.
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2010 | 05:06 PM
  #11  
94z07fx3's Avatar
94z07fx3
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,383
Likes: 4
Default

"What are sealer pellets?"

GM sealer pellets are Barsleak but in dry form.

"Where do I buy them?"

At any GM dealer or simply buy barsleak at any parts store.
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2010 | 05:12 PM
  #12  
MK 82's Avatar
MK 82
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,286
Likes: 6
From: Palm Beach
Default

Pellets are bad. Ummm.
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2010 | 06:59 PM
  #13  
c4cruiser's Avatar
c4cruiser
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Veteran: Army
 
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Default

GM stopped recommending the use of the pellets by dealership service techs some years ago. You can still buy them at a dealer's parts counter.

If you have a very small leak, dump in a small can of ground pepper.
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2010 | 07:05 PM
  #14  
ch@0s's Avatar
ch@0s
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 9,758
Likes: 49
From: Houston Texas
Default

Wow !! this place is full of Dumb!!! shade-tree ideas I'm afraid to speak..
Do what the F**k you want with your cars they are yours to screw up as you please
Reply
Old Jul 10, 2010 | 09:00 PM
  #15  
zandome's Avatar
zandome
Intermediate
 
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: Harrisburg PA
Default

I had a Fleetwood a while back and after a coolant change you had to add these sealers. Apparently there was a porosity problem with the aluminum heads and these sealers "fixed" the problem. The information was in the Haynes Repair Manual and the sealers were available at the Cadillac dealer.
Reply
Old Jul 10, 2010 | 11:25 PM
  #16  
Bondami's Avatar
Bondami
Race Director
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 10,428
Likes: 9
From: Southside of Western Norte Americano State of Confusion, ColoFornia
St. Jude '13
Default

If you think you may have a head gasket seeping, go to autozone and rent/borrow the cooling system pressure tester. pump it up and see if it holds..it shoudl hold quite a while. if it bleds pressure off pretty quick then you do have a cooling system leak (a head gasket thats fouling O2 sensors.. should discolor one of the spark plugs it is burning coolant after all)
Reply
Old Jul 10, 2010 | 11:37 PM
  #17  
chileverde's Avatar
chileverde
Racer
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 291
Likes: 1
From: Temecula Cali
Default

Originally Posted by ch@0s
I agree pellets=band-aid
I visited the bowling green assy plant during C4 production back in 1992 and 1994 and took the tour. During that tour I learned they put Bars Leak Pellets into every car as a final insurance policy against leaks resulting from the assembly process.

Rob
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To what are sealer pellets?

Old Jul 11, 2010 | 09:24 AM
  #18  
ChrisLT1conv's Avatar
ChrisLT1conv
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
From: Dalton Georgia
Default

thanks guys for a the tips and info
Reply
Old Jul 11, 2010 | 01:26 PM
  #19  
Warren Seale's Avatar
Warren Seale
Pro
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 714
Likes: 62
From: Melbourne Fl.
Default

I've owned several GM cars during the mid 90's when Dexcool was first introduced. The factory service manuals were saying to use the pellets when Dexcool first started being used. I figured it was necessary due to the Dexcool. Many years after Dexcool was introduced they stopped recommending this step. My feeling is that the Dexcool formuation was improved over the years thus eliminating the need for the pellets.

I used the pellets in the early years of Dexcool as I was just following the service manual recommendation. Later, once I found out the service manuals were no longer recommending the pellets I stopped. I never had any cooling system problems when using or not using the pellets.

Warren
Reply
Old Jul 11, 2010 | 02:52 PM
  #20  
pearlvett's Avatar
pearlvett
Racer
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 435
Likes: 0
From: Bulverde TX
Default

Pellets can be bought at any GM dealer they are not the same as "Barsleak" however they do work very similar. ALL C6's come from the factoy with the pellets already in and so do most ALL other GM vehicles with aluminum motors. The pellets propose is to seal up micro-pores in the the castings to stop leaks before they start.

btw anyone out there with a silverado with the cast iron block and aluminum heads and you keep loosing coolant and can't find the leak. Guess what its the heads. Go buy the pellets drop all 5 in and drive no more leak after about a week. There was a TSB on the heads, but if you didnt go back to GM soon enough to bad for you. However the pellets will fix it 98% of the time.
Reply



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:26 PM.

story-0
10 Corvettes to Drive Before You Die!

Slideshow: 10 Corvettes to drive before you die.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-23 08:31:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
Corvette & Porsche 911: How Two Icons Conquered the Last 25 Years

Slideshow: Corvette and Porsche 911, how two icons conquered the last 25 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-23 08:18:33


VIEW MORE
story-2
2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Is the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 the best Silverado yet?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-16 08:01:12


VIEW MORE
story-3
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

Slideshow: 5 best and 5 worst Corvette daily drivers

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:32:13


VIEW MORE
story-4
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

Slideshow: The headlights of every Corvette generation explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:17:14


VIEW MORE
story-5
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 most overrated Corvette track packages ever.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:46:45


VIEW MORE
story-6
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

Slideshow: Every 2027 Corvette engine explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:16:31


VIEW MORE
story-7
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-08 19:53:43


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE