K-seal

[AlanM6]

K-SEAL Any one know of this product a mechanic told me about it, when added to the rad (like radweld) it claims to fix cylinder head gasket leaks and cracked heads permanently and all for £8.95 ??????????
Can this be right

[Guest]

K-SEAL Any one know of this product a mechanic told me about it, when added to the rad (like radweld) it claims to fix cylinder head gasket leaks and cracked heads permanently and all for £8.95 ??????????
Can this be right

Don't use it. It's products like this that seem to be one of the reasons for so many cracked heads. It may block up the cracks initially but will also clog the waterways and the head may just crack elsewhere. There is no get around good maintenance and if the head is cracked replacing with the new modified type.

They can be OK on some engines but personally I wouldn't use it on a Surf engine.

Cheers

[crusty]

K-SEAL Any one know of this product a mechanic told me about it, when added to the rad (like radweld) it claims to fix cylinder head gasket leaks and cracked heads permanently and all for £8.95 ??????????
Can this be right

That type of ****e is guaranteed to do more harm than good. My Surfs cooling system was totally clagged up from a similar product. Most Jap exporters seem to use it before shipping just in case the head is cracked, insuring that after a while of driving with it in your system, you WILL crack your head.
I say stay away from the stuff. If your head is cracked, replace it, it's the only opion.

[kitesurf_phil]

I had a discussion with someone in the Chat Room who recommended a similar product called block seal (?). The reason for using it was that, "most diesel Surfs have head cracks already." and a healthy cooling system will guard against the head cracks worsening.
I was told that the way the product is used is to:

1. remove the thermostat.

2. flush old coolant and replace with water only.

3. run engine up for a couple of hours with block seal added.

4. Drain, flush and replace coolant.

No names or packdrill but the person who told me has raced Surfs.

[Guest]

No names or packdrill but the person who told me has raced Surfs.

Racing Surfs - now that sounds like fun.

Personally I'd just change the head - very expensive I know but it does give you peace of mind. I've used block seal before in an escort 1300, it does work well however I just think that you are storing up trouble for later as the head will eventually fail - once it's cracked there is no way back from that and it will just get bigger cracks over time due to the expansion and contraction of the cast iron. It doesn't matter if you never overheat again, once there is a weakness there all the thermal loads will concentrate on that point and eventually the head will crack big time in a way that no block seal type additive can solve. The problem is that this may cause other problems as well, there is no guarantee that when the head goes causing overheating that you won't cause more problems internal to the engine - water in the block can cause no end of problems to the bores, pistons, bottom end and what started off as a £700 job could end up as a £2500 job to conpletely recondition the engine or replace it with another.

Mind you thats my opinion only.

As an aside, I'm pretty sure that the head on mine was gone when I got the car, it most probably had been given some block seal. It took 1 year for it to eventually go but go it did. Mine had 6 cracks in it. I think it just took a year for the cracks to open sufficiently to cause problems.

Cheers

[TonyN]

My thoughts, if it's cracked, you've got nothing to loose by tossing it in. then save your cash and do the head when convenient.

It may not work though, if it was already used before importing, the cracks may be too big now. Or flushing it may have flushed the stuff out, and needs reapplying.