Head gasket sealers

[rogerwa]

Anyone have any experience with head gasket sealers like Dura-Seal or SteelSeal? I have a car the kids drive that was worth about $3k until my 17 y/o bashed up the front end twice and I did the best junk yard repairs I could do.

Anyhow this thing has some head gasket leaks on one side (V6) that is causing bubbles in the coolant and also is letting some coolant into the holes where the plugs are which over time will cause the #4 and #6 plugs to short across the insulator.

The repair would run me about $1500 and I am thinking this thing is not worth $1500. I know doing the head gasket is the "right" way to do it but looking for something that will potentially solve these problems.

Any experience with these types of sealer or if anyone has direct experience replacing the head gasket on a 2000 Mazda 626 v6 would be great. The good news is that it is the front bank of cylinders and not the rear.

Thanks..

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: Head gasket sealers

I have never seen any block sealers work very well on head gaskets. There used mostly as a patch repair not a permanent repair.

 

[bigdee]

Re: Head gasket sealers

Had head gasket leak on a S-10 2.2 litre 10 years ago. Sealed it with BARS coolant stop leak (looks like rabbit feed and molasses) and it worked well. I have had to add it one more time over ten years. Every situation is differant so it might not work but what the heck it is worth trying.

 

[rickryder]

Re: Head gasket sealers

You can give some of the snake oils a try....Most times it won't work but every once in a while it will. The best way is of course doing a new head gasket but you may have a crack in the head or it's warped and would need to be milled flat again. A head gasket replace is not that difficult with the proper tools and a repair manual..... then again I was an A+ auto tech for 15 years at dealerships....

 

[rogerwa]

Re: Head gasket sealers

I have done a lot of my own repairs and generally not afraid to tackle something new. But when the repair shop says its a $1500 job with minimal parts cost, that means its a lot of work. If I had another car to put online and take my time that would be one thing. Unfortunately this would be a get it done over the weekend and back in service on Monday kind of thing.

I am debating just buying a different car and selling this for what I can get.

 

[rickryder]

Re: Head gasket sealers

I understand where your coming from....1 front bank head gasket would take me about 3 hours to do.... I would say a weekend you could get er done I would say 1500 would be both heads.... hey try the stop leak and see You might get lucky and be able to run it for a while. Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[rbh]

Re: Head gasket sealers

I have never seen any block sealers work very well on head gaskets. There used mostly as a patch repair not a permanent repair.

Yup, what PJ said.
Head gaskets go on a dry clean surface, you may want to get the head checked for warpage and cracks though.

 

[sea_goin_dude]

Re: Head gasket sealers

Humm might give it a try if gasket is only leaking water/antifreeze. May be a cracked head if it has been overheated. Especially aluminum.