head gasket leak cures - any good cheap cures?

[Lone Granger]

What is the most successful 'drop in the water' solution for gaskets that are seeping water into the bores and pressurising water - ie no cross mix with oil
I seem to recall that people swore by a particular brand

[TheLurker]

K-Seal. Worked for me on an old polo. Rad weld also seems to work well, but is a more temporary fix.

[steveo3002]

yeah k seal gets good reviews

[Lone Granger]

Anyone used STEELSEAL?

[morgrp]

Def K-Seal - if its only very early signs of it going you'll get another few years out of it with a k-seal. It costs about a tenner

[frosted]

Think it's about 20 squid now , I put kseal in a crv and a year later is still going.

[Chiswickboy]

Another vote for K-Seal.

About £8 - £10 including postage off the Bay.

Doesn't repair bad cases but is great in the early stages of HG failure.

[thinfourth2]

I wander why they call it K-seal?

[ollie854]

thinfourth2 said:

I wander why they call it K-seal?

Because its made by owners of the k-series.

[Defcon5]

ollie854 said:

thinfourth2 said:

I wander why they call it K-seal?

Because its made by owners of the k-series.

Good way to stay in business!

[OlberJ]

The cheapest way to fix it is to get the head gasket replaced.

Anything else is false economy if you're planning on keeping it. Those substances can cause blockages in places you really don't want.

[Colin 1985]

I take it this could be used to diagnose a problem? Ie. if you suspect a basic HGF (rather than a problem with the block/head) could you use this to see if it plugs it?

Has anyone used it - will it leave any residue behind or coat the water passages in anything that may be difficult to remove?

[OlberJ]

They work by turning to a semi solid/gaskety type rubber on reaction with air so anywhere in the coolant system where there is air it can create a gasket seal.

If you got air in your coolant system, due to a HG failure or any other leak the air can get pretty much anywhere and so in turn can the gasket.

For a banger you're not fussed about, batter in.

No way would i do it on an engine i was going to keep though.

[John D.]

thinfourth2 said:

I wander why they call it K-seal?

Funny that.

[Lone Granger]

so K seal gets the most votes and is only £10... - no users of steelseal? - this is upposed to not carry gunge around that can block radiators.

Some forums maintain you need to drain anitifreeze and then run a while and then only use specific antifreeze - is this true?

The K Seal HD, any suppliers?

[PaulG40]

One more vote for K seal. Used it on the daily Punto, worked a treat! You can get it from any good motor factors.

[Lone Granger]

it would appear that the K seal is the later product and doesnt require any changes in antifreeze ...soooo, I shall give it a go and let you know how i get on

Vehicle is a Diablo VT

[PaulG40]

make sure you shake the bottle quite good. I forgot to do this the second time, and poured it in. DOH! Had to drain a bit of my coolant to stick some more in. lol.

[chard]

Let us know how you get on.

[OlberJ]

Lone Granger said:

Vehicle is a Diablo VT

Good man.