another update of head gasket

I got a new radiator and I just realized that how small those tubes are. I'm 99% certain that my radiator is at least 70% clogged after 4 bottles of Bar's leak since July 2020. Its got maybe 30% cooling thats why it wont just over heat right away. It over heat when going uphill.

Here is my plan. I still need to squeeze the last mile out of this prius so I think replacing the radiator every 1 to 1.5 years is worth it. My head gasket is blown and that is for sure since July 2020. Radiator is $80 and finding a mechanic to replace it cost $100 so $180 every time it clogged. I will have to bypass the heater core now. I don't really need heat here anyways. For people who live in colder climate, I suggest using a electronic heat blanket and just bypass the heater core. Use your credit card that has those extended warranty to buy the radiator so you can get a new one every time it clogs. It usually comes with 1 year warranty anyways even on eBay. For bypass the heater core, just get a 5/8" splicer fitting to connect those 2 tubes so they won't go through the heater core. And continue to use Bar's leak, it will do what it says to do to seal the head tho but it will also eventually clog your radiator but oh well, you got 1 year. It took me 4 bottles to clog it to a point that it no longer has much cooling effect.

It also looks like I need to install the new radiator before I can use the bar's leak again. Its clogged now. If I pour it in, it will just build up inside the radiator and won't go to the head to seal it or maybe just a lil bit goes to the head. So I need to install the new radiator first. That is the trouble I have to go through now but I still think its worth it instead of paying $1000 to do head repair or buy a new car now at this high price.

And base on all the info I got so far on how the coolant flow through the Prius system, you can't follow the instruction of Bar's leak. You pour the Bar's leak into the expansion tank and you turn on the car. The bar's leak stay in the radiator tank on the left side. It needs to wait until the thermostat to open so the bar's leak can go from the lower radiator hose to the engine block and head to seal the head. Bar's leak instruction is to turn off the car before the thermostat is open. Its not the case for Prius cooling system. I think the most correct way to feed the Bar's leak is through the smaller tube connected to the thermostat. You feed the bar's leak in that tube, and then turn on the car. The bar's leak will go right up to the engine block and the head and just keep circulating the system without going through the radiator. Maybe I should try that but its a lot of work.

 

I kinda doubt that just vinegar can dissolve bar's leak materials. Maybe / Maybe not but I already got a new radiator. 270k miles, maybe just give it a new one. Another problem is this: If I put vinegar into the expansion tank, it will take 20 to 25min for it to go to the engine block first and then go to the radiator. In this process, it will also dissolve the Bar's leak attached to the head. And once the vinegar is in the system, its hard to completely get them all out. If there is some left and it will prevent the effeteness of future Bar's leak. That may explain why it only lasted 3 to 4 months this year. I remember I poured some vinegar in around May after reading some post here. If you need to continue to use Bar's leak. I guess not to use vinegar

 

Its no fraud. Some credit card has extended warranty on everything you buy. It clogged, they should replace it according to the warranty policy. Also the seller already has 1 year warranty too.

 

I don't know which sealant you used but I used Bar's leak. It worked since July 2020 until it finally clogged my radiator. But thats after 4 bottles.

 

Another correct way to feed the bar's leak in I think its through the tubes of the heater core. Before thermostat opens, all the coolant will just circulate between engine block and heater core. I may try that, use a funnel to feed the Bar's leak into one of the heater tubes and then use that 5/8" connector to bypass the heater core. And then turn on the car until thermostat opens. Yes I think I figure it all out as Im typing.

Most of normal cars are different, you can feed the sealant such as Bar's leak by the radiator cap or the expansion tank. The flow direction of 3rd gen prius is just different.

 

First time I used Bar's leak was July 2020 and the radiator was not clogged. It worked from July 20 to May 21. 10 months and I put on probably 20k miles on it. I will still stick with Bar's leak only even if I know it will eventually clog my radiator. If that buy me 1 year, its well worth it. I just keep changing radiator every 1 to 1.5 years no problems.

 

Different situation my friend...i know i got a blown head and bars leak did seal it. Thats all i know. It kept adding becoz its waned out a lil by lil over times. But some of it built up in the radiator & clogged it now. This bars leak or any stop leak is a temp fix only. In order for it to have max effect is to bypass heater core n radiator while its in there. After its sealed n hardened up around the head, flush out the remaining stuff and then re-connect all the tubes