Has anyone here used Lucas Engine Oil Stop-Leak?

On my last trip to the dealer for an oil change, I was told I have leaking valve gasket. They wanted $850.

I don’t have the tools or the experience for this job. I have a very good shop that will do this for me in San Diego, but I don’t know when I’ll have my truck down there next.

I saw this stuff called Lucas Oil Stop Leak at Home Depot, and it swells gaskets for a temporary fix. If I use this to stop the white smoke from coming out of the exhaust (until I get down to SD), will it compromise other gaskets?

Is this stuff trustworthy?

 

Only if you want to sell the truck this week and hide the problem from a potential buyer. If it swells the head gasket it will do the same to all seals where the oil is flowing. I see $$$ for engine rebuild.


If you want to fix the problem, fix the gasket, not the oil.

 

Leaking valve cover gaskets will burn oil on the exhaust Manifolds .

Not in the engine so any white smoke is in the engine compartment

If your valve guides are leaking a whole other problem

 

stuff like this are only a temporary fix. If you want to solve the problem for good, you have to fix the real problem, the headgasket

also, since when does dropping goop in an engine solves problems? It will gunk up things other than the leaky gasket and may end up creating more damage

Just as an example, my tractor had mystery overheating issues. I found out that the radiator was all gunked up because revious owner didn't bother replacing the leaky radiator and used stop-leak stuff instead. replaced the radiator and no more issues. It was expensive but it was well worth it, as it now runs like a brand new tractor, despite being 30 years old

 

Just get it fixed as stated.

Btw you mentioned two things that aren't exactly related - white smoke from your exhaust would mean you're burning coolant and you have a head gasket issue (smell the exhaust gasses coming out), valve cover gasket leaks would mean your oil would seep out and burn off on your exhaust manifold (burnt oil smell/smoking from the engine compartment).

 

I would call around other shops to get more quotes. A valve cover gasket + replacement runs $250-300 for this truck where I'm at. I have to get mine fixed soon as well. Nobody has quoted anything near what you said. That's crazy

 

I frown upon stop leaks, I'm just not sure how stop leaks of today are any different.