Do Stop Leak Products Work? Do They Damage Engine Seals? Will They Destroy an Engine? Let's Find Out
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ก.พ. 2023
- Stop Leak Products: AT-205, Lucas, Bardahl, Liqui Moly, Bar’s Leak, Lubegard, Hapco, Blue Devil, XADO, Seal Lube, CD-2, Justice Brothers, Wynn’s. Do "Stop Leak" Products Work? Do they cause damage to engine seals? Will they destroy an engine? Stop leak products compared for their ability to condition or soften hardened rubber engine components, impact on new rubber engine parts, ability to resist evaporation under normal engine operating conditions, and film strength or the ability to lubricate engine components. I buy all of the products and the supplies used to perform the testing to ensure an unbiased review. So, thank you for supporting the channel!
➡ Thank you for supporting the channel through memberships:
/ @projectfarm
➡ Thank you very much for supporting the channel through Patreon: / projectfarm
➡ An easy way to find past videos along with products tested: bit.ly/2FCrBpk A big thanks to Jim for putting this together.
➡ Merch: project-farm.com
➡ Click here if you'd like to subscribe: / @projectfarm
➡ As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
➡ Products Tested In This Video (in no particular order):
AT-205: amzn.to/3Z76AHH
Bardahl: amzn.to/3jO2Hr0
Liqui Moly: amzn.to/3ZdyKRE
Lucas: amzn.to/3IoZad0
Bar’s Leaks: amzn.to/3VK8awc
Lubegard: amzn.to/3Gi6lks
Hapco: amzn.to/3CpKzdt
Blue Devil: amzn.to/3IvHRqy
XADO: amzn.to/3GEkF8v
Seal Lube: amzn.to/3X8wKZ3
Snake Oil: amzn.to/3X1m9yT
CD-2: amzn.to/3WURUts
Justice Brothers: amzn.to/3WNFK66
Wynn’s: amzn.to/3jIzNIJ
Videography Equipment:
Sony DSC-RX10 III Cyber-shot Digital Still Camera: amzn.to/2YdXvPw
Canon 70D Camera: amzn.to/31b5Gy0
Azden Microphone: amzn.to/34d3DLE
Go Pro Bundle: amzn.to/3Ca0ZVN
This video is only for entertainment purposes. If you rely on the information portrayed in this video, you assume the responsibility for the results. Project Farm LLC - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
I know the internet oil pundits give your testing process a hard time, but it's massively better than hearsay and anecdotes. Thanks for the hard work, I appreciate it.
Thanks!
Very few in the world really know anything about lubricants. 99% is regurgitation of absolute myth coupled with anchedotal data of personal owned vehicles. For my part I change my oil every 50 seconds using used popcorn oil and I've never lost an engine. Thank the world for Project Farm to actually try some cool tests.
You need to get an agent. You would be a big hit on a DYI cable channel.
Always appreciate your vids. Keep it up 👍
@@trvman1 NO 👎🏼
TV is driven by commercials. DIY channels have advertisers for DIY products. Nobody will advertise on a show with an honest, UNBIASED, person.
You lose/sell a part of your integrity the moment you're on TV
I think I speak for EVERYONE who works on their own cars and trucks when I say thank you for everything you do.. Your channel and the tests have been a never-ending fountain of knowledge, entertainment, and help. -- Dave Raynor, Long Island, NY.
Thanks and you are welcome!
Same gos for me
Absolutely and Ive been ASE certified for years. I've read untold amounts of claims and have come to my own conclusions over the years, but this channel and it's efforts are a great tool.
The Barr’s main seal works great on my gm5.3 gxp which I bought super cheap because of minor to medium oil leak s . Bought mint 2006 black gxp for $ 1200can because of minor and medium oil leaks and a few other problems . While doin mini restoration I added the Barr to fresh oil change started the car several times while repairing brakes ,minor paint touch up , polishing repairing multi purpose signal indicator , heads up display , replaced rad , oil undercoat . The Barr stopped all my leaks after I ran the motor for 30 min shut it of then started the next day 30 min It needs to run and cooled down couple cycles to work then every oil change add 1/2 the bottle
I also had great luck with Lucas power steering stop leak on my 1976 vette .
I'm a mechanic of 40 yrs and I love your videos and the way you test . You make the world a better place.God bless you sir . Ken!
Thanks!
Wow. This was an epic side-by-side test. A huge thanks from the TH-cam audience at large for taking the time and money to put out such an educational video. You never cease to impress!
Thank you!
Everytime you start with a different test my brain spends a little time trying to understand what you're doing, and then spends the rest of the time trying to figure out how you even think of all these tests let alone build them or put them together. You never cease to send my entire brain into some sort of stutter. Always impressed.
He got the information about How to and What they use (standard testing facilities etc) and took their advice and copied, checking with them along the way to make Sure hes doing it correctly . He mentioned that a long Long time ago in a video, if mistaken i apologize but i am very confident in this one . Cheers .
Thanks!
Always informative. No wooden nickles on this channel. What you see is what you get.
Tirelessly creating the testing regime, and we get the best of the best.
Don't know how many years I've been following him now, but he never fails to astound me with his creativity and results you can count on. Big thx for the great content.
@Project Farm you are doing a service for everyone. You deserve more subs
Agree with the above but what impresses me the most is the amount of labor to plan, prepare, and execute. The roadmap, prep, documentation, cleanup, publishing… soooooo many hours to serve up the cream of the crop. A farmer, farming the truth. Whom I would suggest to Aliens as among the (if not the) best of our kind. 👏👏
I bought the AT-205 based off Scotty Kilmer's channel and just before putting it in my engine, your video came out, so I was really happy to see how it performed versus the other products. I agree with you to repair thing's properly, but sometimes it is fun to enjoy a little "magic in a bottle" when we don't have time. If I were the President of the United States of America I would definitely give you the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Thank you for your hard work Todd. It shows and we definitely notice.
Thanks so much!
Hello there question when you used it did it stop the leak in your engine
at-205 is great but hard to find in the stores. even scotty said it was.
Came to say the same about seeing it on Scotty's channel. I was glad to see Scotty's advice lining up with the test results from Project Farm. Love both channels.
@@jorgeaguilar4984 it stopped leak in my rear main seal of 86 F150. Scotty Kilmer video is 100% accurate on description of what it does
Great video. I've used At-205 in 3 occasions where I didn't want to deal with a complex assembly that was leaking and all 3 times it completely stopped the leak. One of them was on a lawnmower that was not all that complex, but not worth my time to mess with. It was leaking like a pig, I poured this stuff in thinking I just wasted 20$, there's no way it would do anything. And to my amazement I was wrong, it completely sealed the leak and when I sold it 4 years later, it was still running great and dry as a bone all around the base where it was leaking originally. This stuff truly is amazing.
It's good stuff. Scotty Kilmer put me on it
Thanks!
@@kychristell1779 Scotty drinks it...even though the interwebs claims he's dead several times a year, he'll never die :)
I love this test. We grow up seeing these products on the shelf in the parts store and a person always wonders. I feel like you shined a light on a corner of the room I didn't have a means to do for myself. Priceless. Also I'm going to try this with confidence on a small leak now.
Thanks! Thanks for the feedback.
It always amazes me how you come up with real world test jigs. Well done
Thank you very much! I typically wake up around 3 am with ideas. lol
Must be the farmer in him
@@ProjectFarm You sleep? I thought you worked 24 x 7.
I can't imagine how long it takes him to research what effects he should look for and then how to test them.
He really means it when he says, “We’re gonna test that!”
Idea for your next video: Garage floor coatings! Compare a few polyaspartic, polycuramine, acrylic, and epoxy options to figure out which coating last the longest, has the best slip resistance, best impact resistance, etc.
Also compare concrete prep methods: various acid/chemical washes, angle grinder, shot blaster (can be rented from most home depot)
Having worked as an installer, there's so many variables, not only concrete prep and measuring and mix ratios, but temperature and humidity on the day the product is poured. While a test of this kind might slightly show an advantage of one over another (though they all basically use the same chemical ingredients) it's unlikely to have any bearing on how it will actually hold up for an individual at their particular garage.
Thanks for the suggestions.
@@ProjectFarm Hey, thanks for everything you do! Been watching your show for what seems like forever at this point - you do amazing work!
Add sand for slip resistance so delete that factor and just test the product but the best bet is to prepare the surface extensively and almost any product will work better.
Best result pour a new slab and then apply product with a handful of sand.
Idealy fine quartz.
Just realise you created sand paper of the highest quality. You are welcome.
Sometime last year I suggested you rank snake oil against products that were arguably "snake oil," and I"M SO DELIGHTED to finally see it happen. Thank you very much! Hilarious!
You are welcome!
The most hilarious thing about snake oil is that the original snake oil actually worked. It was oil made from boiling a Chinese water snake that had some manner of pain relieving chemical in it. Of course, people wanting to market it in the U.S. didn't have access to a snake that was indigenous to China, so they used whatever snakes they could find, then eventually realized that since none of the snakes here had any therapeutic value when boiled down for their oil, they just started selling cheap mineral oil and calling it snake oil, and instead of just claiming it could relieve joint pain, claiming it could cure just about anything.
Was a good hearty chuckle moment to see 'snake oil' as a competitor 😂
My towns main mechanic HATES this kind of stuff, seafoam too even
When I saw some products performing worse than the snake oil all I could think was "that's a lot of damage!"
Should start adding a 'just water' control for your lubricity test, considering how bad some of these additives got! Loved the addition of Snake oil!
some are just rubber conditioners, not meant to be a lube, but just to get on the rubber and work its magic
Thanks! Thanks for the constructive feedback.
@@rngwrm Works like magic on the rubber while it's damaging your engine?
@@HermannTheGreat you don't run a 50:50 mix of it any more than you'd run just water
@@rngwrmYeah that's my issue with that test as he's running them at much higher than the recommended ratios. I would have preferred if he mixed them at the proper ratios to see how much difference they'll actually make in the real world.
You should do an entire video trying different random liquids and setups on the lubricity tester. How small can you get the wear scar? What happens if you only run water? Cutting fluid? Graphite powder? I think it could be pretty entertaining
Thank you for the video idea!
great idea i would love that video !
I would enjoy this "out of the box" PF video
Yes I agree with you, good idea I’d save & share with the mechanics that I use.
Thank you Sir For your efforts. I do appreciate it
I believe he's tried bacon grease and a few other random things
I've used the AT-205 on my diesel Volkwagen and my wife's Ford Fusion, to no leakage on mine and a lot less on hers. It's nice to see it quantified.
Thanks for sharing.
Curious where you were leaking on the Fusion? I have the 2.5l that is leaking from the timing cover and thinking of giving the AT-205 a shot
I've been dealing with a microscopic oil leak in my timing chain gasket for a couple of years now, but neither have had the time nor money to have it manually rebuilt. This definitely helped much better, once I weigh the pros and cons of each of the products you've tested here on a 9-year-old Toyota that's just a little past 285k miles. Thank you again for your test videos as this one came in most handy, so far. Keep rockin', PF!
Thanks, will do!
Which did you use and how did it do?
Dang 285k in 9 years? Did you end up using anything?
Same here. I have the same issue on an old Mazda v6 with 185k miles. I was going to use Lucas but now I'm having second thoughts.
@@chrisz.9974 Actually didn't have to. Went to the mechanic to have my front wheel bearings and shocks done. He found the leak as soon as he took the right brake rotor off (fender liner missing), fixed it for free, but didn't tell me how he did it and which product he used (if any). Oh well, out of sight out of mind. For now anyway.
I've been watching for a while and I just wanted to take a minute to voice how much of an impact you have had on my life. I am going to school for engineering and your videos are entertaining, engaging, and educational unlike most course content I have seen. I've learned a lot about keeping tests limited to one variable, controlling variables, designing tests, and much more. I really appreciate what you do and how transparent you are in your content. Theres a lot more I love about this channel like the pace, energy, information, etc.
Prior to youtube he was a product tester
once u start actually applying the engineering degree THINK ABOUT UR DESIGN LIKE U ACTUALLY HAVE TO REPAIR IT UR SELF
Excellent decision.
Bright future ahead of you for sure.
@@ItsKing32 HAHAHAHAHA
You are kidding, right?
I mean, comon.
Today's cars (other stuff is basically the same story) are designed in such a way that you need to bring it to the repairshop because of special tools, or because it is just a huge job to take it all apart.
John Deere is making sure Farmers are no longer able to repair their own tractors.
Because of the new technology they put in these machines.
And so: This man may think about his design...... but when the big guy who pays the money says it has to go his way, it will go his way.
And so, you can design a car to last for ever (like they actually tried back in the early days, hence why you can still see such cars driving on the road today), but there is no money to be made if the customer is never going to need any repairs.
And so: Not a valid way of making money.
And so: The engineer may be Einstein for all i care. He will still be employed, getting his money from someone else.
And the one who pays is the one in charge. Not the engineer.
Otherwise, great tip.
Wish people would give it a bit more thought before we all accept nonsense like we already have accepted the nonsense.
Take this last example: Plastic Intake manifolds.
PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS.
To save costs they came up with the idea to make such parts out of plastic.
It is bolted to a hot engine.
Guess how long it will take for it to become bad, how long it will take before you need to replace it....... and guess how much work it is to replace it......
Meanwhile cars with METAL intake manifolds NEVER have to replace their intake manifold.
And: We all accept such rubbish. I dont see people protesting infront of the factories, do you?
@@ItsKing32 Your comment should have way more upvotes. Thank you.
Great to see how easily AT 205 softens rubber. I don't use it to stop leaks but instead put it in a spray bottle and spray my 30+year old rubber suspension parts once or twice a year to slightly rejuvenate the aged rubber a bit since it is a plasticizer fluid and one of the main reasons rubber hardens is due to loosing plasticizer in its compound.
How does it lose plasticizer?
The garage my father went to in the 60s would spray the rubber suspension bushings to keep them pliable but I never found out what it was. I always wondered if it would be good for CV Joint boots.
They don't lose the plasticizer agent but rather the chains it forms start to break down. This stuff just helps those chains loosen up and reattach. It definitely works though. Bushings, cv boots, power steering boots, etc. Even door trims can be helped with it. Although you should get something dedicated for that since they come with better smells...
Thanks for sharing!
@@skurblord3401 eh who cares of the smell if it's just the suspension parts outside of the car. Just don't want to douse the parts in at 205 or they will become TOO loose and squishy to do their job for the car properly.
Your videos are so thorough and enjoyable. So nice to see the answers occur to things we've wondered about for years or where people have spoken on forums as if their guesstimate was fact, but now we really get to see it. Always exciting.
Thanks!
You sir deserve an award for the genuine and honest non bias work you do. My #1 source for choosing products. THANK YOU
I used the at205 for a leak in the rack and pinion of my truck and it worked amazingly and didn’t leak a single drop for about 3 months. The leak has come back now but it was such a significant leak to begin with that I’m surprised it did anything at all, plus it gave me more time to save up some money to actually fix the problem
Thanks for sharing.
We can see why Scotty Kilmer likes AT-205, but the friction tester tells us there is a price. Still, anything that buys time… 🙄
That was mostly what I was thinking they'd be useful for. Sometimes you just need a bandaid to keep your truck in service until you have a chance/can afford to actually deal with the issue properly
@lanedexter6303 In the wear portion of the test, Project Farm did a 50/50 mix. Although insightful, in the real world, the mix would be much less and there would be more motor oil.
@@philondez THANK YOU for saying that all it is a BANDAID at best Personally every brand that saids Stop Leak SHOULD BE BAND the only reason why these products exist is because of Nasty car dealership used car lots Private car sales are very popular among the SCUM of the Earth that buy this CRAP all ways remember this Honesty is the Best Policy if your sell a car or Truck just be Honest about it dont be a A HOLE and screw people and BTW some additives not many DO WORK on a temp bases ONLY
It would be cool if you did a video on laundry detergents. I know it stretches a bit out of your regular tests, but I'm sure many of us would like to stop wasting money on detergents that are mostly water
Thanks for the suggestion.
you might want to look into powder laundry detergents. they are stronger and you can use less, although i believe liquid is better for grease/oil stains.
Yes. Liquids vs powders vs pods.
@@calvertschmued2920 it's been years since I've seen those boxes of powder laundry detergent in stores. Must be more $ in selling the liquid.
Add in some Simple Green with greasy or oily clothes. Put it in the bleach reservoir if you have one. Otherwise, add it after the tub fills or all clothes are wet with front loaders.
Why heat the seals up to 350F when an engine running at that temperature would be destroyed? Why test the products at 50/50 with motor oil when NONE of them tell you to do that. Most of these products put something like 12 oz into a crankcase of 4-6 quarts! The narration says to "simulate engine conditions" you put 50/50 mix heated up to about 200F. But that is NOT simulating engine conditions. None of these products tell you to use a 50/50 mix. Unless you test the products the way they are supposed to be used, how is any of this valid?
Probably the best, informative, helpful, and useful videos on youtube. Thanks project farm...
I’ve been selling many of these for a few decades. ATP AT-205 is considered a “re-plastifier” and performed as I expected. Another great use for the AT-205 is wiping vehicle door gaskets before and after winter, also spraying it on suspension bushings. It can even extend the life of air suspension components in expensive luxury vehicles. Great job! Love the channel.
Thanks for sharing!
Never thought of lubing door gaskets. Does it help prevent them from freezing up too? Always get a couple of days each winter where I have to pry my doors open.
Brilliant, thanks for sharing!
Wonder if anyone tried it on old rubbers (condoms) 😁
205 hasnt done jack shit for me in every car ive tried it on..
Tool Tip from chemistry class: Try adding dry (decent quality) sand to the cook plate. It spreads the heat out and lets you seat those little measuring cups in it for more even heating.
Great stuff as usual. Surprised at some of these results. I guess you have to trade off the amount of lube loss vs restoring seals.
Agreed, those plates have serpentine heating elements. Anything on top of the element will get much more heat. Source: 40 years making pancakes including yesterday.
Cock plate 😳
@@mrmicro22 , 40 years of adding sand to the cook plate for pancakes sounds delicious.
LOL 😜 j/k
Thanks!
@@ProjectFarm Metal shot works very well too
I hope you make a lot of money off these videos because you deserve it. By far the best and most comprehensive testing ive ever seen any channel do.
As a mechanic, I'm always looking to find good products that work best for our customers so your videos are great! Always good content and very useful information. We appreciate your time and research testing additives, tools and products etc. Good stuff thanks my friend!
i rarely buy anything unless i check here first lol..idont like wasting money
You mean you can stop a leak for $20 and charge $2000 for a stripdown and rebuild?
@Reckless Rodent Idk what kinda mechanic you use got you so butthurt you me judge me like that. You don't know anything about me or our shop. We've got the best prices and never charge full labor. For a customer that is broke and willing to try anything yeah we'd try n help em out. We've got 60 cars at the shop right now bc we run a tight ship. Ask anyone in my town who's the best and most honest and they'll send you to us every time.
@@jasonmarange5973 None - I do all my own maintenance thanks.
Hi I have a 2006 vw jetta 2.5 my oil filter housing leaks from the gasket slow leak should I use blue d. Or ? I changed my belts today I do most the work myself but the oil filter housing no thank you my guys have to put a new 1 on when I order the part
Thank you again.
The information that I am
able to glean due to your
consistently high level of
testing is Very useful!
I use your testing results to help me keep an eye on the changes and help with decisions on products that we both need more information on.
Again, Thank you.
I don't use it for stopping leaks but, loved to see that there is actually something behind the AT-205 advice I was given! Years ago an old mechanic told me to put the AT-205 in a spray bottle and occasionally mist it on rubber parts that are prone to cracking/dry-rot (boot guards on suspension, protective guards etc.) It works!
Thanks for the suggestion.
Scotty Kilmer put out a video about this a few years ago. I have a spray bottle in my garage with AT205 in it.
I've had luck with AT205 stopping leaks. I now know not to leave it in for an extended period of time now though. It usually stops/reduces the leak within a couple hundred miles though.
An old mechanic named Scotty lmao. Come on
@@ua7pyro591 Beat me to it LOL
I have been watching for years and it’s had really been nice to watch your channel evolve . Hands down the best project Channel there is . Videos are top notch , the tests are done as scientifically as possible for where they are , and the dedication from you is unmatched . No sponsors after all these years really speaks volumes to your integrity. Thanks for all the information and content .
Thanks so much!
Shit dude, I use his information to better inform my customers.
Thank you Project Farm!
Millions of people are lucky that one day, he decided to do a product comparison on his farm channel that had almost no viewers. He stumbled onto his calling and we're blessed that he did.
Love the videos, always informative and I appreciate the scientific rigor in experimental design. A future video suggestion might be barbeque grill covers. Thanks for all your videos.
....and joined. These tests are awesome! I appreciate the unbiased testing and an opportunity for every product to duke it out!
Thanks and you are welcome!
I've always wondered if any of these things actually worked to stop leaks, thanks! This may be out of your wheelhouse, but I'd love to see you test warranties. Maybe you could find any broken tools or small appliances that you have laying around and send them in to see which companies actually stand behind their products, and how hard it is to file a warranty claim for each company.
Thanks for the suggestion.
Excellent idea!!!!
All of these tests are kinda pointless because not one of them is being done at the manufacturer's recommended concentrations. Not one of the instructions say their products should be a 50/50 mixture with motor oil.
Another problem is the tests weren't long enough, though to be fair, this is much harder to replicate. 2 hours is equivalent to maybe 140 miles (2 hours at 70mph)
I suppose the tests are still fun, but they really aren't telling anything.
@@tarstarkusz be quiet, russian...
@@tarstarkusz The mixture doesn't matter really because this test does show that they have a negative effect on the oil. At lower concentrations the effect will be "less negative" but it will never be as good as baseline. It just can't be. It's the nature of the beast.
Thank you so much for this video!
All the product tests u done on car products helped me a huge amount. Keep up the good work!
Thank you sir! Once again a good honest test of product!
Thank you for all you do.
I’m amazed how much effort and complexity you put into doing your tests. Very comprehensive and well thought out. Thanks again for another informative and interesting video 😊
Thanks and you are welcome!
it is his current job to do so.
@@Qusin111
I’m sure it is. No one else is doing it as well as he is. What’s the point of your comment? Obviously it’s his job. If someone comments about how your waitress does a good job, do you say….”Well it’s her job isn’t it?” 🙄
Wow, your tests that include weights, speeds, torque, etc. are always amazing, but this test took everything to a new level! VERY IMPRESSIVE
Thank you very much!
He's slipping. I didn't see any CAS numbers presented. 😉
Great and informative stuff, as ever. As you said yourself, it seems like the products which work best to restore rubber seals, do so at the expense of reducing the lubricity of the oil. And those which don't impair the oil's lubricity are the least effective.
I'm wondering how long the beneficial effects on the rubber seals last. ie. could you run the stop leak for a few hours/days/whatever just to fix a leak and then do an oil change to clean oil again?... or do the stop leak products need to stay in the oil, for a repair to remain effective?
In other news, a suggestion: How about a test on engine flushes?
Thank you for taking the time to do this. With so many products out there it's almost impossible to know what could work or hurt.
You are welcome!
The only concern I have is the 50/50 mix you used. I feel some of these performed better or worse because there was an unrealistic proportion compared to the oil. Unless it specifies 50/50, I feel this deserves a revisit with the proportions correct, at least for the wear and heated oring test
Agree -- If your percentage of product vs oil is greater or lower than specified in the directions, then you're not really testing the recommendation from the manufacturer. I guess you could make a point that this shows an exaggerated view of what would happen even under the specified mix ratio, but now It's hard to determine if the differences would be significant enough to worry about when using the correct ratios.
The 50/50 mix is useful for comparing the differences between the frictions of each product and isn't meant to be indicative of how it would change wear in an engine. I would like to see the proper mix ratios in addition for a closer analog to any sort of engine wear.
@@Voyajer. The same could be said for nearly all the tests. Flow characteristics could change significantly if the ratios are incorrect. Same with the ability to swell the seals... if you're mixing the product at a higher or lower ratio than the manufacturer specifies, you may see better or worse results during testing making it hard to say if one product is actually better than another in any of these areas.
I don't know enough about the subject to know if swelling an o-ring too much which might cause issues, or how soft is too soft for a rubber gasket or if there is such a thing. People use these tests to pick a product to use, and if the recommendations from the manufacturer aren't followed as closely as possible, you're introducing new unknown variables to the mix which may invalidate your results in real world conditions. I think all the tests themselves are reasonable, they just need to use the suggested ratios so we're comparing all apples to apples rather than a pea to an apple to a watermelon.
using a higher concentration of the additive reveals more of what the additive does to the oil, is it representative of real world scenario, no, but it shows which ones are ultimately worse then just topping off the oil to maintain proper oil level or replacing the leaking seal.
Thanks for sharing!
Simple recommendation, but would it be possible when you make your graphs to have the control be a different color than the other products so it stands out? Other than that simple request, I want to thank you for these videos. They are educational, enjoyable to watch, and include all the details without useless filler. 👍
Good idea . Would be very Helpful to those of us with vision problems and would make it Much faster for us to compare at a glance . Cheers.
Thanks! Thanks for the suggestion.
@@ProjectFarm also, if there were chapters in the video at each chart to quickly allow us to jump from chart to chart for comparisons.
I had really good luck with the AT-205 in motorcycle fork seals. A 1976 Honda TL250 with a new fork seal that also leaked. The AT-205 stopped the leak and hasn't leaked for 5 years. The same for a 1977 Yamaha IT 400. In addition it had a leaky seal around the shifter now fixed.
My son tried it on a Ford F150 with auto transmission leak and it did not stop the leak.
The AT-205 is a clear liquid with low viscosity and small amounts are used.
Thanks for sharing.
this is HUGE.. i have a massive rear main leak in my honda J series car and was leaning towards one of these products, but now that i've seen these tests, i've changed my mind and gone with one less damaging to my engine!! THANK YOU!
You are welcome!
Which one are you going to choose because I have the same problem and I can’t really make out the results
@@A2Rplaytimeat205 is the best
I had great results with AT-205 on a old lexus where the engine seals we were starting to leak (as in a few drips overnight in the driveway). I added a bottle AT-205 before an oil change with about 5 hours of cumulative driving time per the directions followed by an oil change and that was over 2 years ago with no leaks since from the seals since. I highly recommend AT-205 if you catch the leak early enough. It is also important to not let the stuff sit in you engine forever. You need to change the oil after the 5 hours of cumulative runtime. I also changed the oil at 3000 miles vs. the normal 5000 for the first 2 oil changes to make sure it's really flushed out. I'm back to 5k intervals again or 6 months whichever comes first (always with full synthetic high mileage for cars over 75K). Always worth a try when the proper fix would have cost in the thousands.
Thanks for sharing. If I ever added it I’d definitely go this route to be safe.
Thanks for sharing.
This seems to be THE answer, use the best to fix the seal but given it was 7th on the wear scar then simply change the oil after a few hours .. am I missing something here ?
Can it fix timing chain cover leaks? Thanks
Afraid not. It's only for rubber seals. Not gaskets or rtv.
I would be interested to see if you took the cooked/treated o-rings, then "changed the oil" and cooked them all again in the control oil, and see if the swelling/softening is still there, or if the o-ring reverted (meaning you have to use it every oil change). It would be neat to see what blackstone labs found for each type as well.
Thanks for the suggestion.
Oouuu yes, This is pretty important! (The re-test part)
I'm pretty sure those are natural rubber o rings which aren't compatible with oil, so they will get damaged by the oil again.
@ProjectFarm if you revisit this test, also consider a high mileage oil as many of those claim to restore seals too
@@feyrband He covered at least two brands of high mileage oil in a previous video, and found they did restore the o-rings slightly.
This video confirmed what I always suspected about these kinds of products. A real repair is much better than a "stop-gap" repair for vehicles. Thanks so much for your hard work!
You are welcome!
At 205 can save u alot of money though when used correctly
@@JUNEBUGLLC Sure, kinda... but its temporary. All these products are a bandaid solution, a proper repair is the correct solution. So if you're trying to flip cars and screw the next guy... yea they'll save YOU money lol.
Why are you guys saying it's a stop-gap repair? If the leak is from the rubber hardening and shrinking and this product restores the softness and expands it to original size, then didn't it solve the problem?
Another question is that does it have to be repeated? For example, if I add AT205 to my engine oil and run it and it stops the leak. Can I then replace the oil with normal oil since the rubber has been restored? Or do I always need to keep the AT205 in my engine oil for it to keep softening the rubber?
2.8 million subscribers!! wow!! so glad to see that! I've been telling folks about this channel for years.. never expecting these many fans, but not surprised.
Thanks! Thanks for your support to the channel!
Gotta appreciate this man, all rhe prep work that goes into this video while narrowing it down and keeping it super informative is just wow,impressive
Thanks!
Hey Todd, fantastic to see that reaching nearly 3 million subscribers you have not given into sponsors. I've been watching your channel when it was small.
Thank you for your hard work and here's to many more years, sponsor-free!
Thank you!
Thank you, I used Lucas oil leak stop in my Merc, due to it was leaking from radiator placed in the middle of the engine, that would take me 2 days to access it, and thanks to your test I was not afraid to use it, as test showed that there was no change in the viscosity of the oil after using it. Leak stopped! And I'm happy I didn't needed to exchange any part to fix it.
Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for another great video. I do use the at205 product on a mower that leaks oil, I’m glad to see that my experience is confirmed by the testing you did.
You are welcome! Thanks for the feedback.
I've used Lucas for 20 plus years I honestly wasn't impressed, but I'll still use it and pretend now it's working as well as before I watched this episode. You've helped me out countless times with products. You help out people I think more than you could ever imagine.
Thanks!
I use Lucas engine treatment in differentials and manual trannys but not in engines. Nothing replaces a blown o-ring but a new o-ring. BLESSINGS!
The only reason I use Lucas is to extend the life of a component already on borrowed time(wore out transmission, high mileage motor, worn power steering pump, worn differentials and transfer cases, and worn small engines).
that was my experience w/ the lucas, but front main was (and remains) pretty hubbed out. it was easier to just keep throwing oil at it until some other failure forced me to clear a path to it anyway
@@jamesm568 Sure. Mine is an 89 Taco and all the other stuff is from 85 on up to 02.
Great test! The scary thing about some of the products is the separation and how poor they are at lubricating. When you start your engine they will be at the bottom of the oil pan like water and get sent straight into the oil system on startup.
The one that started boiling was also quite concerning lol
It will not be 50/50 in the engine. So it should have very little impact on lubrication.
@@Bagom80 1 part it two, or one part in 10, the oil pump is still going to pull the bottom most layer first. The only difference is going to be how long the engine runs without effective lubrication, not how effective it is. Any oil product that seperates is going to be a major issue.
@@animefreak5757 You're right. Just how much water/feces do we want in our engine/ground meat deal all over again! I prefer none, myself and the water will sure be at the bottom, just waiting.
Thanks for the feedback.
AT-205 works great! You can also put it in a sprayer bottle and treat all your rubber, gaskets, cv boots, rubber seal from doors and sunroof. It has many uses really.
Thanks for the feedback.
I would like to see a video on starter fluid. It would be an "explosive" episode.
Always enjoy your videos, one of the best channels on TH-cam by far. Thanks for everything you do!
I would love to see a “Making of” Project Farm video. Maybe a tour of your shop, you choosing a video topic, deciding which products to buy, your listing out your test criteria, maybe how you came up with some and developed them, and then filming, editing and finally uploading. I know some of your videos take months or even longer. Maybe showing some tests you are in the progress of for future videos.
I think that would be a very popular video and would be very well received.
Thanks again!
Thank you for the video idea!
Really love how this chap presents maximum information with minimal waffle! Great job, very informative test 😊
Thanks and yu are welcome!
Thank you for all the hard work you do!
I really like how you continue to improve your testing by fine-tuning your procedures like improving your caliper measurements and resurfacing the test wheel on the lubricity tester you've used dozens of times before.
Thanks for sharing!
For me I'd be happiest using Lubeguard by the look of those results. Very little extra wear, while also helping bring the seal softness back down and increasing thickness. It's pointless using a seal improver if it also damages you engine through excessive wear so that one is probably the happiest medium!
Thanks for sharing!
I would like to see him mix Lube Guard half of a dose with a half of a dose of Liqui Moly... As long as there is no issue when they are mixed, I suspect the Liqui Moly would protect the engine while the Lube Guard conditions the seals. Might end up being the "perfect" product...
AT-205 soaks into the gaskets and seals, so it's not sitting in the oil forever, just until it gets to where it is needed.
Also remember that he tested the products in the wear test at 1:1 with the motor oil to emphasize their effect so that they could be more easily compared to each other. In the engine, the product will be 1:4 or 1:5 with the motor oil, so the impact on wear will be far less than what the tests showed.
Keep in mind he mixed it 50 50 and the instructions are far less than 50 50. There would be no noticeable difference if he would have mixed according to direction
Once again some truly impressive work. I admire both the care and the work you put into bringing us these results. Thank you.
Thanks and you are welcome!
Just watched a video of yours from 4 years ago now to today. Great to see how far you've come
Thanks!
Nobody can beat Mr.PF’s brainpower on his product torture tests. Consumer Reports can’t hold a candle to him. Anything I buy is based on Project Farms testing.
Another fantastic test. Thank you !
Thanks and you are welcome!
Truth ❤❤❤
Fantastic showdown, I have experimented myself with AT-205, I put it in a spray bottle and spray different rubber bushings and it works great at softening rubber and making it flexible again
Thanks! Thanks for sharing.
How often do you have to spray the rubber parts?
Do you know how long the change lasts? I'm wondering if I can treat it once, run the engine for a short while, then change the oil. I want to avoid the wear with the AT-205
@@jeremyvalero-Sapphire You could try using a thicker weight oil than the recommended weight, like 20-60 instead of 10-40 for example
@@jeremyvalero-Sapphire You have nothing to worry about. In the test he did above he did a 50% motor oil / 50% additive mix which as absolutely ludicrous and virtually meaningless in real world conditions because the RECOMMENDED amount of additive added to the motor oil is nowhere near 50%! In the case of AT-205 the recommended amount to add is 6 ounces! That's a TINY fraction compared to what was done in this video! That equates to about a 4% ratio versus the video test which was a 50% ratio which again, makes the wear test done in the video virtually meaningless and very misleading. What would have made sense was to do that test BUT going by ratio stated by each product manufacturer since that is what people will actually be going by when they use it in their car. In addition to this, both the AT-205 and the LubeGard Seal-Fixx are known for being so effective that users of the product actually recommend that you start with HALF of the dose mentioned in the instructions so we're talking about 3 ounces, which again, its a TINY amount compared to how much motor oil it's being added to! The ONLY reason you saw increased wear in the test done in the video was because of the ridiculous amount of additive he added to the motor oil, which diluted the motor oil by half! Of course that's going to increase wear at that dilution since the additive is NOT a motor oil! But at between 3 to 6 ounces per 5 quarts of motor oil there will be no increase wear for goodness sake!
I had a rear main leaking in my Cummins 4BTI and the AT 205 I used WORKED--and it's cool to see this video supports my findings!
Thanks for the feedback.
Looks like the AT-205 is great in every category except the "damage" category.
@@unebonnevie I would love to see this same experiment with the recommended measurements added to the oil instead of 50/50 done here. AT-205 requires a few ounces to 6 or so Quarts of oil where as another of these products (can't remember off the top of my head but it's mentioned in the video) requires 1 to 5 ratio. I'd want that product to have better lubrication qualities than say the small amount of AT-205. I came here looking for info on AT-205 and I'll likely still choose it for the restoration properties
Thank you so much for taking time and effort to demonstrate the difference between the products, Keep going.
Thanks, will do!
I'm surprised these haven't made an appearance on the channel before, but I'm glad to see it here to your usual exacting procedures!
Thank you!
I remember using a radiator stop leak when I was younger. Of course, it ruined my radiator and damaged my cooling system.
I would love to see radiator stop leak next.
Great suggestion! Thank you
Yup, lost my Acura that way. But I was dumber and younger
I've actually had it work once. Titan brand, not cheap and it may have plugged heater cores, but it did stop a head gasket leak into the cylinders after shutdown.
I have an old "drive it till it dies" truck that got a small hole in the radiator one bitterly cold winter. I put in the stop leak version with the two different liquids, an egg, and a large dose of pepper. I have to top up the fluid every 500 miles or so but it never overheats.
That video was awesome. Great job and appreciate the help!
Thanks and you are welcome!
By far, the best video that explains every aspect of the different products. Just subscribed. 👌🏻
Thanks! Thanks for watching and subscribing!
Another solid unbiased review. Love the tests you come up with!
Possible idea for a future (cheap?) test if not already in the works: coolant additives. Water wetter, engine ice, etc
Thanks for the helpful reviews and experiments!!
Thanks! Thanks for the suggestion.
I've been subscribed for a few months now, and I just realized my favorite thing about your channel is that you make the scientific method entertaining, accessible, and relevant to a broader audience. I've never contemplated buying a leak-stop product, but still found the video engaging.
Thanks for the feedback!
Project Farm is the best channel out there. He tries to be fair to every product he tests and i appreciate his knowledge and reckneck genius he brings to the table. Thank you for the entertainment.
Thanks and you are welcome!
I'm glad you've grown so much. I was around when you were first beginning having lots of fun with lawnmower engines. It's good to see you again. Take care.
Thanks so much!
I would love to see this with the stop leak for antifreeze might be a large project though. K seal blue devil Barrs leak would be a cool shoot out between brands all readily available at most part stores all about the same price.
Thanks for the suggestion.
@@ProjectFarm Me too. I know for a fact that it'll stop up a heater core tight as a corn cob or a tater in a tailpipe!
@@lewiemcneely9143 have you used K-Seal ST5501?
I have had good results with it, without a loss in heat performance.
@@thefordmaniac I don't think so, Pal. I'm so geezerish I have to farm everything out pretty much but old cheap Seal-all will seal off pinholes in Briggs gas tanks. BOO on ethanol!
Agree with the other comments. Your reviews are unbiased and well thought out. It would be great to see a comparison on masonry bits (quad tipped vs standard tips etc) also one on impact sockets vs standard sockets 👍
Thanks! Thanks for the suggestions.
I Hope Your Channel Is Around Many MANY More Years. I Can't Tell You How Many Times Your Work Has Been A Real Help In Getting An Answer To A Question. Thank You. 👍
Thanks and you are welcome!
👍@@ProjectFarm
Thank you for running this test. It shows how this stuff works or doesn't work.
You are welcome!
Im so happy that your channel has reached so many people over the years! Educating people, and testing thousands of products. Helps me make good purchases! Lol
Thank you so much!
Project Farm is like the Scotty Kilmer of product testing.... it shows the results
I used "Bar's Leaks" for a rear main seal leak. It worked for me and did not cause any other problems.
Great feedback on the Bars leaks. Thank you
Perfect timing! Had a car issue, started the journey as usual by seeing what Project Farm has to say about it. Didn't realize this was just posted last week!
Thanks!
May I ask which product you used on your own vehicle as you mentioned? I read an awful lot of comments so I wouldn't have to trouble you to answer yet another question but couldn't find the answer. This is a great video by the way. Amazing work!!! Thanks!!!
I wonder how much the product effectiveness and the viscosity loss would change had you used the product to oil ratio suggested by the manufacturer (e.g., if 1 qt. of product treats 4-6 qt. of oil so the ratio would be 1:3 to 1:5, or the average of 1:4). That said, this was an awesome video, as usual. I am always amazed at how many different tests you are able to come up with to test the products. Yours is the only channel that matters when it comes to tests and comparisons.
Yeah, that potentially really helped some and really helped others in every test.
Spot on, I think this was a major flaw in this round of testing. While I think he does a great job with most tests, I think using a ratio not recommended by the manufacturer will definitively impact the results and is not reflective of how these are used in the real world.
Nice to see some "classic" Project Farm video content. I personally love the testing/debunking of additives. Keep it up!
Thanks for sharing!
Do you have a follow up video planned for this?
Testing the seals that did soften/swell, to see if the rejuvenation holds up throughout certain environments or conditions?
Thanks for your work!
You are welcome! Thanks for the suggestion.
Thank you for putting this out there. It’s really helping me to decide what to use for my car that’s probably not worth the effort to replace the main seals. It’s a 2006 with over 200k and just a get to work ride. I was really wondering about the difference between the products and this made sense
You are welcome! Glad to hear!
I wasn't aware of the seal lubes lack of lubricity performance but I can attest that it works remarkably well, the amount you add vs. oil is much less than 50/50 so the damage would certainly be less.....that being said, awesome test!
Thanks for another thorough video! With the weather getting warmer it would be fun to see you do a bug zapper test. I live in an area with a lot of little bugs and mosquitos so it'd be nice to go out on the deck and enjoy the warmer weather without bugs! Great work again!
Skeeters hate the Thermacell repellers. I use the EX90 - recharges easily via USB.
A thing I learned researching zappers last year is that the UV ones don't do anything to mosquitos since they don't navigate by light. Light smoke from a fire pit took care of them for me, but I've heard very good things about thermacel from a few camping channels
@@microwave221 Get a fan and put some fine mesh on the back, mosquitos are very bad at flying, they get sucked by the fan and then stuck to the mesh.
@@jonasstahl9826 yeah, I've got a little battery powered one with a screen on it that I use for that, and it works well. The airflow pointed at you also seems to keep them away as well, and is nice on humid evenings.
2:51 I love a good chuckle followed by “we’re gonna test that” ❤
lol Thanks!
It’s amazing all the hard work you do to test all these products.
Thanks!
Three of my vehicles sprung leaks within the last week. This could not have come at a better time! Thanks for all your hard work and effort as always.
Thanks for sharing!
But I thought you had nowhere to be? lol
Great video - nice to see some actual data on how effective the different products are. AT205 certainly has a strong reputation, so it was nice to see that it actually does help seals - also interesting to see the negative impact on lubricity!
Thanks for sharing!
This is one of my favorite channels.
Thank for the great info PF.
Thanks and you are welcome!
If you're interested in another additive test, oil extreme is recommended by David Vizard (renowned engine performance guru) and its supposed to be a newer alternative to ZDDP. Calcium Petroleum Sulfonate is the active ingredient.
I would like to see a comparison video of normal brake rotors vs drilled/slotted rotors. Love your videos, they're very informative. :)
Thanks! Thanks for the suggestion.
@@ProjectFarm i would also like to see that
Drilled/slotted rotors are used for competitive race cars where the rotors need to shed heat quickly. They aren't needed for street vehicles, but...people think that if it's used on a race car, then it MUST be great on my SUV 🙄. Not taking away from your video suggestion, just adding FYI.
@@mikek1187 Yes, thanks for sharing that. 👍🏼 I am aware in most cases normal brakes are perfectly fine for the average vehicle, I'm just curious about how a comparison between the two would go. 😎
Brake Rotors with holes are NOT drilled. They are being casted with the holes already on the mold. Cheap ones are drilled and they crack.
Was litterally trying to find a video on that subject this morning, the best review channel on TH-cam comes to the rescue haha!
Thank you very much! My goal is to provide the best product reviews available anywhere. It's a LOT of work, but I believe the reviews are helping a LOT of people buy products that work and help them avoid wasting their money. So, thanks again!!
Wow, you never fail to impress me. Not just with your testing and helping myself and many others very much in making buying decisions. But how you tentatively answer comments on soo many of your videos. I wish I knew how you kept up with it all.
That being said, I would love if you could test out a bunch of the various power steering fluids to let consumers know what would be the best one for an average American vehicle. The only two tests I know would be beneficial are a cold pour test and strong shake test (observing amount, size, and location of bubbles), but maybe you could find out another test that is good for power steering.
Thanks! Thanks for the suggestion.
The absolute best comparison videos on the internet. Great job as always!
Thanks so much!
This was a very interesting one! I honestly did not expect such a gap between the different products, I also was surprised at how well some of them worked. Thank you for your hard work and dedication. This channel has become a priceless resource I check before I buy anything, and I look forward to the new video every week. 👍
Thanks so much!
Interesting to see how theses products act in the oil. Makes me hesitant to ever use it. But I would like to see the wear test redone with the actual mix ratios to see how much damage it causes vs the 50/50.
Thanks for the suggestion.
@@ProjectFarm I'd say the exaggerated mixture shows exaggerated results, but the results still show which ones wear more or less than the others, the main point of the wear test.
There is no way to know what wear each product could do in different engines.
I immediately thought the exact same thing. The stop leak should have been mixed to the manufactures specs for all of the tests to provide a more accurate sense of what was going on. I love his tests but this one had me scratching my head.
@@ZackaryMac sure. It absolutely does. However the proper mix would give a better idea of how "safe" these products are to use even if it doesn't work...