Discussion
Is it okay to put k-seal in an old engine as a way of avoiding headgasket replacement due to leaking coolant?
I know it's not the proper way to do things but for an old car you don't really care about is it worth the gamble?
I've not done it before but someone I knew said he'd put that in his engine and it fixed the problem with no apparent downsides.
That's one anecdotal review. Has anyone else had any luck with it?
I know it's not the proper way to do things but for an old car you don't really care about is it worth the gamble?
I've not done it before but someone I knew said he'd put that in his engine and it fixed the problem with no apparent downsides.
That's one anecdotal review. Has anyone else had any luck with it?
It might. For a while.
If it works, it'll run fine until next time there's a cooling issue (read water pump, thermostat, radiator etc) then when you try and replace that, everything will be caked in gunk.
If it doesn't work, it'll either not fix the leak, or clog the radiator in a few hundred miles.
If the car is scrap anyway and you're just trying to squeeze a few more miles out of it until the next big bill or inevitable MOT fail, worth a go. A few quid could put off that new car purchase. If you have any aspirations of keeping the car longer than a year or two, fix it properly is my opinion.
If it works, it'll run fine until next time there's a cooling issue (read water pump, thermostat, radiator etc) then when you try and replace that, everything will be caked in gunk.
If it doesn't work, it'll either not fix the leak, or clog the radiator in a few hundred miles.
If the car is scrap anyway and you're just trying to squeeze a few more miles out of it until the next big bill or inevitable MOT fail, worth a go. A few quid could put off that new car purchase. If you have any aspirations of keeping the car longer than a year or two, fix it properly is my opinion.
Triumph Man said:
I used to be a great believer in it - it does seem to work - but after having to replace a heater matrix in a mini R50 because it was clogged with K seal I'd say it's horrible stuff! Also, you think the taste of old coolant is bad, try old K-seal!
I prefer a glass or two of claret to be honest. ingenieur said:
Triumph Man said:
I used to be a great believer in it - it does seem to work - but after having to replace a heater matrix in a mini R50 because it was clogged with K seal I'd say it's horrible stuff! Also, you think the taste of old coolant is bad, try old K-seal!
I prefer a glass or two of claret to be honest. Mechanics do nothing but moan about it when it's been in engines. Get a quote for a head gasket and weigh that up against what a new car will set you back, considering any other faults that your current steed has. If you're looking at a new tyre or 2, brakes and knocking suspension on top of the head gasket then it's probably time to part ways. If it's mechanically in good order other than the head gasket then just get it done, assuming the quote is reasonable.
RazerSauber said:
Mechanics do nothing but moan about it when it's been in engines. Get a quote for a head gasket and weigh that up against what a new car will set you back, considering any other faults that your current steed has. If you're looking at a new tyre or 2, brakes and knocking suspension on top of the head gasket then it's probably time to part ways. If it's mechanically in good order other than the head gasket then just get it done, assuming the quote is reasonable.
I would do the headgasket myself if it came to it. ingenieur said:
3GGy said:
Worked for me once. Blocked my heater matrix up too, so it was a cold winter.
what car was this and did the heater matrix have to be changed to fix it or did you not keep it that long? I wouldn't put it in if you ever gave any intention of pulling the head.
If it's to limp it through another year or two with the intention of scrapping it when something else goes then you've got nothing to lose.
Headgaskets on old cars don't tend to be that difficult to do if it's a keeper.
If it's to limp it through another year or two with the intention of scrapping it when something else goes then you've got nothing to lose.
Headgaskets on old cars don't tend to be that difficult to do if it's a keeper.
ChocolateFrog said:
I wouldn't put it in if you ever gave any intention of pulling the head.
If it's to limp it through another year or two with the intention of scrapping it when something else goes then you've got nothing to lose.
Headgaskets on old cars don't tend to be that difficult to do if it's a keeper.
Why worry about having to do the future headgasket job if it has k-seal in it? What's the impact? If it's to limp it through another year or two with the intention of scrapping it when something else goes then you've got nothing to lose.
Headgaskets on old cars don't tend to be that difficult to do if it's a keeper.
ingenieur said:
ChocolateFrog said:
I wouldn't put it in if you ever gave any intention of pulling the head.
If it's to limp it through another year or two with the intention of scrapping it when something else goes then you've got nothing to lose.
Headgaskets on old cars don't tend to be that difficult to do if it's a keeper.
Why worry about having to do the future headgasket job if it has k-seal in it? What's the impact? If it's to limp it through another year or two with the intention of scrapping it when something else goes then you've got nothing to lose.
Headgaskets on old cars don't tend to be that difficult to do if it's a keeper.
However, my Bongo had a porous head so gaskets wouldnt' solve the problem. Kseal came to the rescue, plus it was like £15 instead of £1500
ked! 
Had a tiny leak on my l322 sc, put k seal in, it stopped the leak, no issues whatsoever with blockages, eventually drained the coolant after 4 or 5 years and the k seal was still evident in suspension in the drained fluid, it didn't clog anything at all, so its good to go in my experience, still have the car and its now got clean fresh coolant in and no leak evident...
Make up your own mind but in my experience it will do no harm....
Make up your own mind but in my experience it will do no harm....
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