I have a 2000 Buick Lesabre with the 3800 series II V6 with 74,000 original miles. I just had the intake gaskets replaced due to coolant leakage, and all of the coolant was replaced with standard Prestone (green) coolant. I am now closely monitoring the coolant to see if it is using any. Just wondering about using the steel seal product on this engine if I detect/suspect any slight coolant usage (so far I have driven the car approximately 350-400 miles and don't see any perceptible usage). If over time I see any slight usage can I use the steel seal in the new fresh coolant without any issues in order to ward off any further consumption?
If you detect any loss of coolant, it could be that there is air in the system working itself out. If it keeps going down in the reservoir, it's either leaking or burning it. If there is a leak, it needs to be properly fixed and sealers like steel seal are a poor substitute for a proper fix.
Thanks. It's been a couple of weeks, and as I said 350-400 miles since the coolant was swapped out. Any estimate as to how long it might take to get all of the air worked out of the system?
Not really. It depends how well the system was purged of air when the coolant was changed. It would help if you turned your heater temperature to High so any air in the heater core would move through the system.