Why does my truck leak worse after putting an oil additive in?

Question

I bought an 85 Ford F-150 a few weeks ago. The dealer told me it had been sitting a long time. It had an oil leak and the mechanic told me to put this additive in that would make the seals expand. I did it and now I have many leaks! Why is that and what should I do?

Answer 1

Here's the correct answer. The "oil additive" is only designed to help with minor leaks on a normally driven vehicle, and is only a temporary fix, even then. It softened the seals/ gaskets, which were hard and brittle from not being driven, so instead of expanding the seals, it merely made them soft enough to blow out from the pressure exerted from the oil pump in the engine.
Your only solution is to replace the necessary gaskets and/or seals.

Red Flag #1...don't buy a vehicle that's been sitting for a long time unless you can buy it dirt cheap and/or can afford to replace all engine and transmission seals, as well as belts and hoses. These items all dry out from non use and it's just a matter of time before they will fail once the car is being driven again on a regular basis.

If it's any consolation, the engine leaks would have gotten worse eventually on their own anyway....the oil additive just hurried it along a bit.

Solutions that come out of a can are really just delaying the inevitable anyway. If you are going to keep the vehicle, you'll need to check into the cost of replacing all the main seals and gaskets. The parts won't cost that much; the expensive part will be the labor to install them.

Good Luck.

Answer 2

whereever its leaking from you will have to fix or buy a new engine. you basiclly answered your question. as the additive makes the seals expand, its like making a hole bigger and more will come out. most additives are thinner and the additive should have been to seal the leak until you can fix the seals. they are really cheap and you can do it yourself. by sitting a long time, sludge build-up is in the pan and put back in the engine. upper engine sludge means problems and a new engine.

Answer 3

Because the additive you put in softened the seals as well. I'd locate the leak and replace the seal. Probably beginning with valve covers and then on to the fuel pump.