If your car uses more fluid than normal, you likely have a leaking gasket or seal. While some are easy to replace, like the valve cover gasket, others are an utter nightmare. In any case, you’ll still have to do something about it or end up with automotive fluid everywhere.
What can you do to resolve fluid leaks from hard-to-reach seals?
Well, according to #savagescotty, you can take care of that fluid leak by pouring sealer inside the system. That way, you don’t have to replace the problematic seal nor worry about losing fluids at an alarming rate.
As always, there’s a bit more to the solution than that. So, follow along and see how lifelong auto tech Scotty Kilmer resolves this frustrating issue.
The Toughest Seals to Replace
The toughest seals to replace are the ones that sit between the engine and the transmission. On the car Scotty is fixing, for example, fluid is leaking out of the front main seal on the automatic transmission.
The seal is less than $20, but getting to it is the problem. To take out the seal and replace it with the new one, you’d have to pull the entire transmission.
Not only is that job time consuming, but it also requires a lot of space and expensive tools. Thankfully, there’s a way around all that work.
What You can Do Instead
Kilmer swears by a little something called AT-205 Re-Seal when dealing with leaks from inconvenient seals. This product is a clear sealer that looks just like water, but it’s actually an innovative polymer oil that mixes with all types of automotive fluids, including engine oil, transmission fluid, and power steering fluid. Scotty even used it to seal up the fluid leaking from his jack.
Wherever you pour the fluid, it will help rejuvenate the condition of the seals inside that system. The specialized polymers help tighten up the spring inside, which allows the seal to fully fill the gap once again.
To allow the sealer to work its magic, you just have to:
Pour the Sealer Inside
Depending on which system is leaking, you just have to pour the sealer into the same spot you add the normal fluid. The amount you’ll use depends on how much the reservoir holds.
If you’re filling up a four-quart system, use about six ounces of the sealer. Just make sure you have enough room in the system for the sealer before adding anything to the fluid.
Drive Your Car Around
Next, take your car on a long drive to help circulate the sealer through the system. Since it takes up to five hours of operating time for a perfect seal, you might notice a bit of leaking through the rest of the week. Just keep driving your car as needed and you’ll notice a big difference soon enough.
Keeping Your Seals in Great Condition
You can use AT-205 Re-Seal whenever your car starts to leak fluid from hard-to-reach seals. If the exact same seals start to leak after using the sealer, then you likely need to have them replaced at your local shop.
Remember to bring your Vehicle History report to your service appointment to ensure your mechanic has all the info needed for the care and upkeep of your car.
