HEAD GASKET Repairing Sealants - DO THEY WORK ?

For a head gasket i would change it .I have had the stuff work in radiators for a wile though imo

yes I have used bars leak and it worked great, especially since yours isnt too bad. Definitely do a coolant flush a couple days after.

it might work for 500 miles or so. the real question is, do you want to keep and drive the car or are you just trying to get to the used car lot to buy another one?

yes I have used bars leak and it worked great, especially since yours isnt too bad. Definitely do a coolant flush a couple days after.

try this [link to secure.steelseal.com (secure)]

most. like Steel Seal are just walnut shell and glue based snake oil scams. I have used K&D ceramic sealer on combustion chamber cracks under very lucky conditions and have had them work long enough to get he car through an auction. If you value your car you need to have the leak properly diagnosed before taking it apart and then fix it right.

Leaky HG must be replaced with best money can buy
Standards are just miserable cardboards with no metal rings

Liquid gasket works if you super clean both sides.

Squirt two solid beads of rubber about 1/4 inch dia. on one surface and let dry solid.
Take the other piece and cover the entire surface with "wet" rubber and tighten them before it drys.
Let it set to dry.

It ain't gonna work dude. You gotta replace that.

The Blue Devil stuff does work. But from experience I would say you're better off to replace the gasket.

If he has to take the head off, he may as well do it properly.

If its a small teaspoon leak coming from you head gasket then try steal steel.

You should prolly replace it.
It's going spring another leak sooner next time if fixed.

Don't worry about it then. I ran a straight six in a ford F-150 for about 5 years with a blown head gasket. I lost about a quart a week. The truck fell apart and the engine was the only thng left that still worked. I spent alot of money in antifreeze in the winter that's all.

If it's an old beater fuck it, drive it into the ground.

Change the head gasket!

Trust me!

I had an old Cavalier that had a leaky head gasket. It was going to cost more than the car was worth to fix. I got 20,000 miles out of the first treatment and the leak returned. I got 10,000 miles out of the second treatment and the car was done.

I've seen it work temporarily, but the issues I have are:

1. If you get it to seal and sell it quick and don't tell the guy buying it then you are a total dick...

2. It's only temporary so why waste time and money and take a chance on causing even more damage?

it will get you through the winter, as advised flush later, if running in the summer (depending on engine / specs) perhaps remove thermostat or replace with colder to relieve undesired pressure.



Had em go a week, had em go a year, your millage may vary, longer without thermostat.

How do you know it isn't a cracked head?

ive dealt with the problem on two different cars..tried all sorts...they worked for varying lengths of time,a but blow out again in the end...for a temporary fix, if your unfinancial etc, sure try it, but you'll have to replace it eventually anyway.

Ive never known anyone to use it and never have to touch it again..

and if the head needs machining, sealant will be hopeless.

Goodluck!

I don't want to sell the car
and especially like that, that's not my style

I want to fix it

I don't
but why would it be

this is the same engine here

[link to www.maui.net]

You want to replace the gasket. I had an old 86 1/2 Nissan Pickup that constantly caught on fire due to a leaky head gasket lol.

If you use a sealant......DON'T FLUSH LATER!!!!

There are some that work, depending on the severity. Blue Devil is one that works, but it's $60 (has a $$ back guarantee). Iron-Tite works, and also K&W Block Seal for much less. K&W was the main choice for a machine shop I used to work with, and they swore by it. Bars Leak is okay, and is known to work for some. Most all fixes are temporary, and may last as little as a couple weeks to a little more than a couple years (depending on driving habits). You might have to grind the heads, plus the cost of parts/coolant, and the possibility of not seating the head and all other elements involved. The only thing you might be out of w/ the sealant is your time. If the max amount of bottles doesn't work, don't put more in than necessary. It may end up clogging up various parts in the system, not always remedied by a flush.

Bars Leaks is famous for blocking up heater cores. If you live some place cold wait till spring. Yu could be driving around all winter with a leaky HG that the gunk didn't fix and no heat in the cab as an added bonus.

get your tools out and if you try it and it doesnt work call the junk yard,all plugged up

Pull the head and fix it right, hopefully the block isn't cracked.
Less than 5 hours work, pull it, take it to a head shop, they fix and you pickup and install. I've done this in my sleep, just do it.

Change the gaskets unless you don't mind this problem resurfacing at the most inconvenient of times. Miss Cheapskate here, I've been faced with this problem twice before. I chose the sealant the first time because one I was being cheap and two I didn't want to leave my car with the mechanic for a few days. A mistake because I live in a area that's hot and humid most of the year so as soon as the winter cold lifted the problem resurfaced. Don't be bothered with this same problem months sometimes days down the road fix it the first time. :):tounge: