Do Stop Leak Products Work? Do They Damage Engine Seals? Will They Destroy an Engine? Let's Find Out
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- Опубликовано: 25 фев 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:
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➡ 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
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➡ 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 
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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 RUclips 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.
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.
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!”
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.
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.
....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!
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’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..
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
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.
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?
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.
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 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
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!
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
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.
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.
You sir deserve an award for the genuine and honest non bias work you do. My #1 source for choosing products. THANK YOU
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.
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.
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?
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!
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.
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!
Todd, I have to sincerely thank you for this test video! I have a 2011 F250 6.7l with ~160k on the meter. I had a noticeable rear main leak and before paying more than $1k to have it replaced I "gambled" ~$40 on 2 bottles of AT-205 because of this video. It's been over a month since I did and guess what! NO MORE LEAK! 😮 I was shocked and waited to see how long it lasted before posting this, but at a little over a month, I'm impressed. Thanks for your content it's wonderful! Keep up the good work brother!
Thanks and you are welcome! Thanks for sharing.
I had great luck with it in my excursion, after a few hundred miles my truck was way better. I use a bottle with every change now
I am start having same issue just yesterday I noticed I am having rear main seal leak , on my Ford 2014 and its very low leak , did you use entire bottle of AT 205 or half , I just did oil change yesterday and haven't drove my truck maybe more then 10 miles. So what you suggest ? Should I use entire bottle and once it stop leak then do the oil change or leave it in with oil ? Kindly advise. Thank you 😊
You guys need to rip out or replace your ccv on those 6.7’s. After about 60k on the stock ccv they get clogged and cause a build up of pressure in the engine. It will blow out more than just your rear main. I just did a ccv reroute which totally nukes the stock box.
Update?
Probably the best, informative, helpful, and useful videos on youtube. Thanks project farm...
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. 😉
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?” 🙄
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
Great job. AT205 is my #1 go to for all my seal leaks for many years now. It re works.
Thanks! Thanks for the feedback.
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!
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!
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
By far, the best video that explains every aspect of the different products. Just subscribed. 👌🏻
Thanks! Thanks for watching and subscribing!
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.
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.
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.
Awesome test, now I know why people recommend AT205 for softening old rubber parts! I also know what I'm putting in my leaky Toyota - thanks a million mate
So my question is that I just did my oil change and also saw a very slow leak in my rear main seal in my truck , so you suggest that I use AT205 and let it run like how long and once I stop the engine , do I dump it out right away or wait till next day to see if it's still leaks going on and start the truck and let it sit on idle for 30 min or whatever you going to suggest then dump it out ? Advice 😍
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.
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.
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 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!
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!
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!
Thank you sir! Once again a good honest test of product!
Thank you for all you do.
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
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!
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.
Thanks for the link Todd.....another excellent video from the PF catalogue
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
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!
Congratz for the vídeo, and thank you very much. Very clear, well done, lots of information. Excellent!!! Subscribed to the channel. :)
Thanks and you are welcome! Thanks for watching and subscribing!
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!
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.
That video was awesome. Great job and appreciate the help!
Thanks and you are welcome!
I love your informational videos! and you always test products that many question which helps us make better decisions for our cars!
Thanks! Thanks for supporting the channel! I really appreciate it!
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.
Nice to see some "classic" Project Farm video content. I personally love the testing/debunking of additives. Keep it up!
Thanks for sharing!
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!
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 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 RUclips by far. Thanks for everything you do!
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!
Thank you so much for taking time and effort to demonstrate the difference between the products, Keep going.
Thanks, will do!
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 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!
The youtube DIY mechanic "Scotty" (i.e. "ring that bell" guy) recommended the atp 205 as the best stop leak/seal conditioner he had seen some years ago. Damned if he wasn't right :) On that note, gotta say I love the way you test in pretty much all your tests. You've become my "go to" for "xpert" opinion on soooo many things :) Saves me a TON of time, money, and worry, while being damned entertaining to boot! Hat's off, and thumbs up PF!!!!
Thanks so much!
Thanks again for another video.
I'm not in the need for a stop leak but your video is here, so I'm watching. I don't buy anything I need without searching through your videos first though.
You are welcome! Thanks for sharing.
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!
I could not be more appreciative to you and your work on this channel. I tell as many people as I can about your work. Yet again i find a product that I have been using for the last 20 years with great success and now you confirm it further. At-205 in my opinion is a magic snake oil that actually works great including the test of time. Thanks again. Keep up the great work.
Thanks for sharing!
I take it from your glowing comment that none of your equipment suffered from reduction of lubrication from using this At-205? Did you use At-205 continuously or just one time to resolve the problem returning to your regular oil afterward?
@@Troyvidihoo AT-205 does not stay in the oil for very long. It is soaked up by the seals and gaskets so the impact on wear is minimal. When using it, you should change your oil in a few hundred miles and then just use regular oil afterwards.
@@Troyvidihoo I have completely replaced my oil with at 205. Never had a problem.
@@TheSuperBoyProject That means squat if you did it a month ago. Give a time frame, as the wear you are putting on your engine will be calling for you...
Great review!! Always wondered if these products do actually work. Thanks for the effort you put into these videos, and the unbiased testing too!
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!
Really love how this chap presents maximum information with minimal waffle! Great job, very informative test 😊
Thanks and yu are welcome!
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.
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.
Ever since I started watching your tests I never grabbed anything but AMSOil and Liqui Moly if the other isn't available. Sure feels better to know what you're filling in is worth it's money. Thanks for your incredible tests!
You are welcome!
Lucas Products are Top-tier.
In germany you basically only have liqui moly when it comes to effectiveness. There is another company called "Lambda Deutschland" but haven't used their products yet since they are mostly available online and not in a shop. The Lambda products are allegedly better than liqui. I'm glad PF takes his time to investigate all these rumors and myths around such products and also reassures me in liqui products since its almost the only quality one here in germany thats always available in shops👍🏻
@@FeZerret how does Petronas oil compare? We don’t get it here in the states
Facts. I recently switched to AmsOil. From Mobil 1 full synthetic, my last 2 oil changes. I started with switching to the OE AmsOil. I liked it. So did my engine. I went with the cheaper OE AmsOil just to see if AmsOil was any good. Then went with the 5w30 Signature Series for my last oil change a few days ago. I must say, AmsOil signature series is the best engine oil I've used yet. I had a very light tick when I'd start my truck 4:00 a.m. for work. Since I put in the signature series. That light tick is gone completely.
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
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!
Thank you for doing this comparison. I was very interested in how oil was affected when an oil additive was added, the lubricity testing showed me what I was looking for, but all the other testing was very helpful. Another You Tuber, Scotty Kilmer, advises use of AT 205 quite often in his videos, so it was good to see it tested.
Thanks and you are welcome!
The ones good at stopping leaks are terrible for wear and tear. Wow. Thank you for your hard work! ❤
You are welcome!
Thank you, Project Farm! Good test methodology! 🎉
Thanks and you are welcome!
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.
Amazing, invaluable information and evidence. Massive Thanks Todd! Best channel on the Tube.
Video Idea: As Ratchet Straps seem to change yearly, I would love to see another (updated) test. Compare to old results?
Thanks and you are welcome! Thanks for the suggestion.
Another great test! Thank you.
It’s amazing all the hard work you do to test all these products.
Thanks!
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!
Was litterally trying to find a video on that subject this morning, the best review channel on RUclips 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!!
I am always impressed by the large variety of test criteria. Greetings from Germany. I would like to suggest windshield wipers as test objects.
He has covered this, and he also went back and tested them after a year too!
Another Amazing Video !! Your attention to detail is Next Level! Thanks for doing the work.👍
Thanks and you are welcome!
Great information! I've always trusted Lucas to extend the life of a tired engine. Small engines mainly. But did use it in older trucks to control blow bye and it was beneficial. I don't think any additives will actually fix a leak that is active, but do believe that products that keep seals conditioned can extend life. I'd like to see you do some testing on BG additives, a product I also trust.
Great information! Thanks for running those tests. I would like to see the hard tool storage tested like Milwaukee Packout, Dewalt toughsystem etc.
Thanks! Thanks for the suggestion.