Anyone have luck fixing leaking head gasket with a sealer?

[nightheron]

I was wondering if anyone has had any luck fixing a leaking head gasket with any of the sealants that they sell. If there's one that works why tear the head off, right? It's for my daughter's 1998 200SX with a 1.6 motor, not my 240SX. 240's never blow a head gasket.
I'd appreciate any input from someone who's tried the easy way out, especially if it works long term.

[tyrodtom]

I've used it in circle track cars, at the track, in desperation.
The first time on a 200SX, I used K&W block seal, followed directions as best I could, but couldn't let it cure as long as the directions advised. I warned everbody i'd probably have a short race, ended up finishing 2nd. They thought I was playing mind games with them. I raced the car the rest of the season, about 4 more races. When I took the engine apart at the end of the season, I could see no sign of a problem in the head gasket, so I might have sealed a cracked head. Anyhow I replaced the head.

The next time I used it the same K&W block seal, on a 240SX, racing again, it lasted about 2 races, then let go again, and it was a blown headgasket.

[compactfean]

Ive seen that stuff last 2 years in some DD Honda's. And actually who knows how long after that. I guess it just depends on how bad it is. That Walmart crap don't work at all though.

[moso]

putting sealer in your radiator is a bad idea, it has been known to clog radiators, heater cores, thermostats, and block passages.

[tyrodtom]

The K &W block seal I used isn't just something you put in the radiator and forget about.

You drain the coolant, put the sealant bin with just water, remove the spark plug from the blown cylinder, run the car till it's warm, 15-20 minutes. Drain the mixture, let it set with no coolant overnight, (though i've just let it set curing for only about 5 hours, the first time)

I raced the car the rest of the season , with no indications that I had stopped up the radiator passages or any other problems.


Used as directed, it's worked for me both times under very harsh conditions. The second use only worked for a few races, but in neither use did it stop up any other passages. In the second case I used the same radiator for another season with no problems until it was smashed in a wreck.

And note this is racing circle track, much more stress on the engine and cooling system, than just daily driving.

[AZhitman]

I can see this ending badly.

[nightheron]

I tried this K-Seal product that my local auto parts store said had good feed back and results with. Well, it didn't really work. So much for the easy way out. I guess I'll have to tear the head off and replace the gasket, etc.etc etc. Thanks for the replies.

[moso]

you should probably check the radiator and heater core while your at it.

[tyrodtom]

The stuff is weird .

It worked for me on a engine that was blown so bad it would barely run.
Then another time on a engine that was just pumping out a little coolant, and would hydraulic lock when it was shut off, it only worked for a while.

But in neither case did it cause a problem with the radiator later. Neither car had a heater .

[HxC_Nismo]

i would give Blue devil a shot, its a liquid sealer and if it doesnt work the part store will refund you money. oreillys and kragens sell it but its like $60. but if your car cant idle for atleast 30 minutes without overheating this will not work for ya. but ive heard of it working on a couple cars, but dont hold your breathe with any of those sealants. plus the ga16de motors are dime a dozen in the junk yards and you can find em cheaper then what it cost to fix your headgasket at a shop. good luck though