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 
what are sealer pellets?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
From: Dalton Georgia
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
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
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
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.
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.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 9,758
Likes: 49
From: Houston Texas
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 7,839
Likes: 22
From: San Diego, Ca
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.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
From: Dalton Georgia
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.
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Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 20,974
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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)
It was $2 and has lasted 5 years, and all systems still working, so far.
(I would not do that on my vette)
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,853
Likes: 8
From: Westerly RI
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
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
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
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.
If you have a very small leak, dump in a small can of ground pepper.
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: Harrisburg PA
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.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 10,428
Likes: 9
From: Southside of Western Norte Americano State of Confusion, ColoFornia
St. Jude '13
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)
Racer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 291
Likes: 1
From: Temecula Cali
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
Rob
Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 713
Likes: 62
From: Melbourne Fl.
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
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
Racer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 435
Likes: 0
From: Bulverde TX
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.
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.