my head gasket just blew! :(

[goodcat]

the RAC guy said that there was air in the system and that the water (?) wasnt going through the matrix (?).
he did a chemical test on the rad and it showed that exhaust fumes were coming back into the rad. its not losing water but he said that the head gasket has gone.
he said that there was a product called "K SEAL" and that this would be good for a couple of months. has anyone used this before? just had a quick read up on it and it says that its a "permament" fix to cracks and holes in heads, gaskets, matrix, coolant system etc etc.
obviously in going to get a new head gasket but i just wanted to hear any opinions on this K SEAL?
he also said that the air lock was probably when i topped it up with water and just put the rad cap back on. he said that the truck needs to be running when you top it up, otherwise you can get air in the system.
it was actually my "mechanic" mate that topped it up for me just before i went to france. im never using him again! ####ing ######!

[Albannach]

Do Not Use K Seal!

[Albannach]

And the RAC guy is talking shite when he says the engine should be running when the coolant is topped up.

[sv1000spilot]

K Seal, Radweld, Eggs..........SNAKE OIL

Might block the leak, but also any other small waterways.

[goodcat]

And the RAC guy is talking shite when he says the engine should be running when the coolant is topped up.

thats what i thought because this is what average joe public would do if they pulled into a garage to top up with water. ive topped up cars before with the engine off and never had a prob.

why do you say dont use K SEAL then mate?

[Albannach]

why do you say dont use K SEAL then mate?

It's designed to plug leaks, but it will also plug radiators and small water galleries (it can't tell the difference). Not just K-Seal, all of those sealant things are bad.

[BUSHWHACKER]

The head is phuqed!

[cabbage]

i've seen rad-weld block most of the water ports in an engine before, wasn't pretty at all! the stuff was all over, had come into the cylinder that the head gasket had burst around and sealed up the hole but it also blocked the small water ports in the head gasket, leading to worse overheating. was a quick fix that ended up having the car scrapped! was'nay my car like but still nay good!

[goodcat]

oh ok. cheers for that guys. guess i wont be driving her for a while then
wheres the best place to get a new gasket? from toyota or can you buy uprated ones?
or is that a dumb question?

[BUSHWHACKER]

The head is buggered, you need a new cylinderhead!

(plus a new gasket)

[cabbage]

oh ok. cheers for that guys. guess i wont be driving her for a while then
wheres the best place to get a new gasket? from toyota or can you buy uprated ones?
or is that a dumb question?

head gasket repairs usually see you right for a while, did my tractor a wee whilee ago and its storming about again! needed an engine hoist just to lift the cylinder head on that!!

i'm not too experienced with surf repairs but i've found roughtrax4x4 pretty good. i think there is a link on the home page or you can get them on ebay.

[goodcat]

The head is buggered, you need a new cylinderhead!

(plus a new gasket)

do i? he assured me it was just the gasket that had failed. there was no white smoke when i drove it the final bit home? or was that because of the "pellet" he put in the rad to slow things down?
if the head was cracked or warped wouldnt i know about it more obviously??
the last thing i want is to replace the head but if thats whats got to be done then thats whats got to be done.
just breaks my heart that my surf has had a problem. ive NEVER had one problem with it in the 15months ive owned her. im still struggling to admit that she is broken lol

can anyone shed any light as to how i got an air lock that caused all of this then?
i topped it up with water the day before my 1000km trip to france a couple of weeks ago.
when i got back i took the rad cap off and i could see the small grill holes inside. i shouldve topped her up again but the exspansion tank was 3/4's full so i thought it didnt need it?
i thought that when the rad gets low on water it will take some from the exspansion tank. so i was under the impression that if there is water in the exspansion tank then there is no need for urgant concern just yet?
or is that not the case and i have fcked my surf!?
i'd actually feel better if i knew that "i" had broken her as opposed to her failing on me so my toyota confidence isnt knocked.

[RodLeach]

It's probably not an air lock that caused it.. Just that the cylinderhead designs on surfs are all utter cr*p.. It's just failed because its sh!t as aposed to you bringing about its death an its £1000 repair bill..

[MattF]

do i? he assured me it was just the gasket that had failed.

Just do as you damn well please then. Why ask if you're going to ignore what advice you're given. Have a word with BDT. You two should get on like a house on fire.

[goodcat]

Just do as you damn well please then. Why ask if you're going to ignore what advice you're given. Have a word with BDT. You two should get on like a house on fire.

matt you have totally took what i said the wrong way you numpty. i was asking a question hence the "?" at the end. i wasnt saying he was wrong or dissageeing. i was leaving my question open to disscussion.
jeez somebody got out of bed the wrong way this morning didnt they.