Pros & Cons of coolant stop leak additives

[gmanpaint]

I would like to hear what the masses say about coolant stop leak additives.

Positive & negative reviews are what I'm after. Do you think they help, or are they harmful? Speak your mind right here for others searching for answers.

What brands have you tried, and how well did they work if it all.

Alternative methods are welcome as well. Have a home remedy, a cure all, or maybe heard a story from someone, but haven't tried it yet.

Please discuss:

 

[Varsity]

Before I replaced my intake gasket, I was mysteriously losing significant amounts of coolant with no clue as to where to even look. I figured I should use some stop leak to buy some time, so I used what I believed was Bar Stop Leak. There's like 5 different versions that do almost the same thing, I used the most basic one. I believe it was like $6-7. It did seem to stop the leak for awhile but didn't seem to last too long.

I suppose its good for a TEMPORARY fix, but I wouldn't use it as a "patch." It did its job the best it could in my situation but I wasn't too impressed. Also, I can't seem to get that crap out of my engine or radiator. Given, I've only done one complete "flush," but I always find the brown sludge washed up in the reservoir bottle or in the coolant itself. It's really just more of a pain than help. If you love your vehicle, do yourself the favor and just fix the problem.

My two cents for whatever its worth.

 

[rickybobby]

I cant remember the name of what i used, but i put some in a jeep with a cracked head about 5 years ago as an experiment with my engine overhaul instructor, and it held for 4 years until a piston grenaded. As far as i know he put the same head back on and it still held coolant without adding more of the stop leak also. It came in a blue bottle and had copper flakes in it

 

[rickybobby]

I believe it was this (dead link)