One of the scariest things to ever happen to your engine is a blown head gasket. Even though the gasket itself is cheap, the labor that goes into replacing it is mammoth. Consequently, garages will charge you a premium to get the job done.
People are always on the lookout for potential workarounds to the blown head gasket problem. One possible solution is using a head gasket sealer like K-Seal head gasket sealer.
A head gasket sealer sits between the engine block and the head. It forms a perfect seal that keeps coolant and oil from leaking into cylinders.
If you are losing coolant or dropping oil levels and can’t see a visible leak, chances are you have a blown head gasket. Other symptoms to be on the lookout for include:
- An overheating engine
- White smoke in the exhaust
- The oil looks milky
- Bubbles in the cooling system
- An overheating engine
You can find other symptoms of leaking head gaskets on this comprehensive post about.
How Do Head Gasket Sealers Work?
An efficient head gasket sealer works by sealing any minor blemishes, cracks, and holes in the head gasket.
Even though it is a liquid with no solid particles, it reacts to heat as the engine warms up and will start solidifying as soon as it makes its way into the blemishes within the head gaskets.
After drying up, a good head gasket sealer should not crack or liquefy again, making it a theoretically effective solution to an otherwise expensive problem.
The big question is; do head gasket sealers work as advertised?
Do Head Gasket Sealers Work?
Well. It depends. Some vehicle owners will swear by the efficiency of head gasket sealers, while others dismiss them as a scam, a waste of time.
They all have proof after having tried them on their blown engines. After research and an experiment, I can give two antagonizing answers.
Head Gasket Sealers Won’t Fix Massive Seals.
Since a head gasket sealer is a patch, it will only work if the damage on your head gasket isn’t massive. It will work just fine if you use it as soon as you suspect a leak.
However, if the gasket and block are too warped and you are burning tons of oil or coolant, there is no way the sealer can make a foothold and will also flow through the openings and burn in the combustion chamber.
Takeaway: There’s no guarantee that even the best head gasket sealers will fix your blown gasket. Some damages are irreparable and need a replacement.
The Sealer Won’t Work If You Don’t Follow Instructions.
Any head gasket sealer you buy will have specific instructions on how you should use it. Deviating from these instructions ruins its efficiency.
How to Use a Head Gasket Sealer
Most sealers will want you to:
- Pour the head gasket sealer into the radiator or coolant bottle
- Turn on the engine and set the AC heater and fan on high
- Run the vehicle for at least 15 minutes or until it warms up to operating temperature
Be sure to read your head gasket sealer-specific instructions and follow these to the latter for the best possible results in your engine.
Head Gasket Sealers Don’t Work Forever.
While a head gasket sealer might plug the leak after proper installation, it is not guaranteed to hold for long.
They are a cheap and temporary fix that though worth trying, will just buy you an unpredictable range before the leak pops up again.
The permanent and best solution to your problem is replacing the head gasket. While at it, inspect the joint between the block and the head to ensure they are not warped or have any other blemishes.
You should also pay attention to other potential issues that lead to a blown head gasket and address them; otherwise, you will blow the new head gasket too.
The Pros and Cons of Using a Head Gasket Sealer
Since there is a divided opinion on the efficiency and safety of head gasket sealers, it would be best to look at the pros and cons of this product. This will help you make an informed decision when choosing between using a head gasket sealer and replacing the gasket or disposing of the car.
The Benefits of Using the Sealer
The most profound pros of trying a head gasket sealer are:
A Cheap and Quick Fix
Using a head gasket sealer is quick. The product itself is often very cheap. All you have to do is pour it into the radiator and run your engine for the recommended time.
If it works, it will be a very cheap and straightforward fix for an otherwise severe problem. If it does not work for as long as you want, there is little to lose.
The convenience makes it a perfect solution when you don’t have a mechanic nearby, or you drive a cheap old car that is cheaper than the labor cost of fixing the head gasket.
Saves Time
Since using the head gasket sealer takes a minute or two of work and up to an hour of waiting as the engine handles the rest, it is a nifty time-saving fix.
This is handy compared to the hours it takes to pull an engine out and replace a blown head gasket. If you can’t afford any downtime right now, you could try a sealer.
Keep monitoring your vehicle as you wind up what you are doing and make plans to have the head gasket sorted as soon as possible (or when you detect further leakage)
Some head gasket sealers to try out include:
The Cons of Using a Head Gasket Sealer
Those who discourage the use of head gasket sealers also have a good number of reasons they deem them a waste of time. These include:
They Are Not a Predictable Solution
The biggest problem with using a head gasket sealer is its unreliability. The fact that you can’t be sure whether the seal will work or not makes it a terrible solution.
Even if the sealer works, you can’t be sure how long it will hold. You will constantly be looking over your head as you drive. This repeated nagging makes your vehicle unreliable and a bother.
Some Sealers Could Contaminate Your Engine
While manufacturers claim their sealers stay solid after reacting with heat, they don’t guarantee these solids will remain in the head gasket pores.
If misused or in the case of poor-quality sealers, you could end up with powder-like solids swishing around your coolant. These will eventually affect your vehicle’s thermostat and other cooling system parts.
In some severe cases, it could even end up clogging the vital components in your cooling system.
Compatibility with your Engine
The last caveat could be compatibility with your engine. First, some products work on diesel engines and others on gasoline engines.
Some will not hold on to specific engine manufacturers or vehicle engine models. This makes using the sealer guesswork and not a sure repair job as it should be.
Should I Use a Head Gasket Sealer?
A head gasket sealer is worth it if you believe the cost of replacing the head gasket isn’t worth it compared to how much value you attach to the car.
For instance, it’s not unheard of to get a $3500 labor quote on the entire job. This won’t be logical if it is an old used vehicle worth less than $4000.
In this case, it would be cheaper to sell or scrap the car, use the repair money and the cash you make selling the damaged unit to purchase another affordable unit with no head gasket problems.
Before doing this, you can try the head gasket sealer and see how many more miles you can get from the engine. This is the only logical way out.
However, if it is a collectible or a relatively pricey vehicle worth way more than the head gasket repair job, you should avoid using a sealer that will cause further problems.
- Sell the car as is and buy a replacement.
- Invest in getting a proper head gasket replacement
Will a Head Gasket Sealer Ruin an Engine?
If you use a head gasket sealer from a reputable manufacturer, there are little to no chances of ruining your engine.
However, there’s still a possibility of solidified sealer particles breaking into combustion chambers if the damage on the seal was significant or falling back into the coolant.
This is a risk I wouldn’t take in a high-value vehicle where I stand to lose a lot compared to how much I could have spent replacing the gasket.
How Long Does a Head Gasket Sealer Last?
It depends on the quality of the sealer, the extent of damage on the head gasket, and whether you follow instructions to the latter. It could last anywhere between 50 miles and 25000 miles.
Bottom Line
A head gasket sealer can be an excellent temporary or short-term solution to a leaky head gasket. Try it out if you drive a cheap old vehicle that you don’t think it’s worth the money and time of replacing the head gasket.
If you are unlucky to have the problem on a pricier vehicle that is relatively new (or a collectible), invest the money and time in replacing the head gasket. While at it, troubleshoot and fix any issues that could have led to the blown head gasket.