Head Gasket Repair Fluids

[jake-the-peg]

Anybody had any success with any of these?

My nephew's been staying with us for a while and his Astra's blown a head gaskett - not extreme but losing coolant, bubbling and exhaust smell from expansion bottle so pretty clear.

Anyway he's rather hoping to get it the 200 miles or so back home to Ireland before getting it fixed - wondered if anybody had had any sucess with any of the head gasket repair liquids like K seal, steel seal etc?

[Answerprancer]

I tried K Seal once when my head gasket went and it made bugger all difference.
The engine continued to boil over. A waste of the £11 this tiny bottle cost me. Then again after I'd opened the engine and had a look at the state of surfaces, it was too far gone anyway.

[EDDIE51]

They only work if you put them in at the very start of the problem when the leak is very small.

[Graham-W]

Tried al-sorts with my Skoda Superb diesel, trying to put off the day when it needed repair.
Should have saved my money and bit the bullet in the first place.

[TWR]

I understand Steel Seal is a very good product & does produce results, should you try the fluid, go by the Instructions fully, on his return loosen the Expansion cap, by doing this the system does not build up pressure, just a word of warning should he not be aware, NEVER TRY TO OPEN THE EXPANSION BOTTLE CAP WITH THE SYSTEM UNDER PRESSURE, sorry for shouting. tell him to take some water with him on his return.

[Cmitchell]

If you were selling a car on and you didn't want the expensive repair it may be a viable alternative however it would be foolish to expect a long term solution - it is simply a temporary "get you by repair" and still carries risks. Incidentally K Seal is quite successful at repairing hairline cracks in cylinder heads etc, rather than "full blown" head gaskets. It will definitely not mend a head gasket that has already blown (it would be like going to a shop and asking for a "tin of compression").

[Answerprancer]

LOL @ "tin of compression" - yes, like trying to mend a hole in the Hoover Dam with a bit of bubble gum!

[Nibble]

or

http://jasonkolb.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/little_dutch_boy.jpg

[jake-the-peg]

Thanks all

Yes he's fairly mechanically literate - just wondered what sucess people have had - might give Steel Seal a shot and drive it about a bit before risking the full trip back