What's the best stop-leak for an engine using about a quart in aprox 200 miles?

 

where's this oil leaking ? burning oil is rarely a head gasket, its far more likely a blown seal (camshaft seal is #1), or badly worn rings (rare on a B230 'red block'), or valve guides (not as rare, but still not common).

does it blow blue smoke if you go down a hill at speed with engine braking ? thats valve guides.

 

Sorry. I neglected to say "Quart of coolant". The vehicle is an 850. It's long had this issue but over a few years consumption has slowly crept up. No vapor in the exhaust so it's not time for the Blue Devil!! TD

 

wait, 850? this is the 240/740/940 section, we deal with redblock not whiteblock engines.

I'll move this whole thread from the 240 section to the 850 section.

I don't like using ANY stop-leak type stuff, it all gums up the engine, unless you just want to squeeze a few 1000 more miles out of the car before scrapping it.

 

Sorry about the wrong post location. Too many cars with too many problems. Duly noted.

 

Are we supposed to comment on this or is it done? I think its done, you need to replace the head gasket.

 

a few things to consider - you can try a coolant test kit to see if any exhaust gas is getting into the coolant, you didn't note if you have a smell in the cabin (ie slow leak in the heater core/hoses) or if you are spotting the driveway. Sad to say if nothing visible is happening (including leakage from the reservoir etc) a new head gasket may be in your future.

 

A new headgasket is not that hard. I did one in about 6 hours taking my time. THen again, I also did the timing belt and serpentine belt, water pump and all pulleys while I was at it. One tip if you do the headgasket, you need to replace the "one time use" stretch head bolts......