Can putting more stop leak help or is my car done for?

1994 CHEVROLET LUMINA
150,000 MILES
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KATALLI
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
1994 chevy lumina, gets hot within 2.5 minutes of driving, oil is filled with water. I put antifreeze and water in the reserve tank as well as the radiator. 2 weeks ago put in stop leak and changed the oil. Can't afford replacement of head gasket or milling the block if it needed it. Sorry just need to know if band-aid will help or just find another car with a list of problems :)
Nov 10, 2011 at 9:36 AM
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CARADIODOC
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 34,413 POSTS
The engine won't overheat in 2.5 minutes. If you're seeing bubbles in the reservoir, a head gasket is leaking. Stop leak won't fix that. Antifreeze in the oil will melt the first layer of the engine bearings so that will lead to more problems.

You might consider looking for a community college with an Automotive program. If engine repair fits with what they're currently teaching, and they're willing to look at it, cost will be very low but repairs can easily take a month or more.
Nov 10, 2011 at 10:29 AM
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BILLYBOB
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 27 POSTS
an old ouick fix for a crack is black pepper add to radiator & see if it stops the leak? pepper swells up when it gets wet & will usually plug off a leak! i had a hole in my radiator water shooting strait out added some black pepper & sealed it rite up over a year ago never has leaked again!!! if you have???? billyquarter@frontier.com
Nov 10, 2011 at 10:43 AM
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MHPAUTOS
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 31,937 POSTS
Fix it properly, do not add pepper or stop leaks this just does not work long time, what you will get is all this muck swelling up and blocking radiator core tubes and compounding the over heating by restricting coolant flow.
Nov 13, 2011 at 5:01 AM
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WRENCHTECH
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 20,760 POSTS
Black pepper is a terrible idea. It will plug up everything that is shouldn't be and double your problems. There is no such thing as "mechanic in a can".
Nov 13, 2011 at 6:00 AM
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