Head gasket sealers

Tobster86

Does anyone have any experience of using head gasket sealing coolant additives?

What are the drawbacks?

(Actual experiences please, not pub discussion)

Vehicle in question is a 1999 Freelander with a 1.8 k-series (sigh...) engine.

Head gasket was already done a year ago but it still needs coolant reservoir topping up fully on a weekly basis. It's my mothers car. She can't afford to get the head gasket done (I'd argue it's not worth it anyway) and I live too far away to get enough time to go up there and repair it.

Paperbird

Only ever had success with them for small rad leaks but if it's only loosing enough to need topping up once a week it might work. Downside is that as you need a heavy duty sealant it could clog the rad.
We have the same year Freelander with the same engine and if it started showing signs of head gasket failure it would get sealant, topped up, then traded in on a TD4.

arcon5

You sure the water pumps not leaking or something?

smudger1964

I have used this stuff on a peugeot 106 and it worked for me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqfp3PFJQJk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7pus6Xr41c&feature=related

colino

Before trying any snake oil, get it properly pressure and sniff tested. Then with a proper diagnosis you can decide to fix or sell. Incidentally I've never known a K series that has been properly repaired with the new set to go again.

NeverEnough

I used the ubiquitous K-Seal on a Land Rover product years ago and it did the trick - sold the car about 18 months later and it was still going fine, not losing coolant.

r748spx

k-seal is the only one i have used and seen work as a temp fix. sounds like who ever did the job first time round didn't do a good job properly didn't skim and pressure test the head.

would defiantly get the coolent system pressure tested to find the correct problem could be a easy fix leak or a rad or matrix gone.

Rolandtheroadie

Tried k Seal and Steel Seal on a GM engined Astra F. (There was engine oil in the coolant)

Didnt work for me.

mattyprice4004

Tobster86 wrote: »

Does anyone have any experience of using head gasket sealing coolant additives?

What are the drawbacks?

(Actual experiences please, not pub discussion)

Vehicle in question is a 1999 Freelander with a 1.8 k-series (sigh...) engine.

Head gasket was already done a year ago but it still needs coolant reservoir topping up fully on a weekly basis. It's my mothers car. She can't afford to get the head gasket done (I'd argue it's not worth it anyway) and I live too far away to get enough time to go up there and repair it.

That's not the HG - if the oil is fine and you're losing water it's something else.

Wonder how many K series were scrapped because of the 'they all do that' mentality. When looked after they're pretty solid lumps. I've had 5, covered over 100,000 miles and only had one fail due to 4 hours on a track causing water pump failure.

Water pump or inlet manifold gasket.

r748spx

could still be a head gasket gone between a waterway and cylinder bore or leaking out the engine.

mattyprice4004 wrote: »

That's not the HG - if the oil is fine and you're losing water it's something else.

Wonder how many K series were scrapped because of the 'they all do that' mentality. When looked after they're pretty solid lumps. I've had 5, covered over 100,000 miles and only had one fail due to 4 hours on a track causing water pump failure.

Water pump or inlet manifold gasket.

Wig

Yes, it could be the HG, between waterway and cylinder.

It could also be an eroded wall which no amount of skimming or sealant will be able to fix. only way to tell would be to take it off and have a look. But if you want to try an additive quick fix first then go ahead.