Difference between revisions of "Fix a Head Gasket With Engine Block Sealer"

#Check under the oil filler cap.  When a head gasket begins to leak, a common symptom that will arise is “mayonnaise” under the oil filler cap.  It is called mayonnaise because a film develops on the underside of the oil filler cap that resembles the condiment.<ref name="rf1">http://oilandwaterproject.org/</ref>

#Look for white smoke in the exhaust.  When a head gasket fails, coolant leaks into the cylinders and is burned along with the air and fuel mixture.  Burning coolant produces a different color exhaust than the vehicle will produce normally and will appear white or grey instead of the normal dark shades.<ref name="rf1" />

#Drain the oil and look for coolant.  When [[Change the Oil in Your Car|changing your oil]] look at the oil you drained for signs of coolant.  A leak in the head gasket will allow coolant to seep into the oil of the vehicle, but coolant and oil are different consistencies so they will naturally separate.<ref name="rf2">http://www.agcoauto.com/content/news/p2_articleid/200</ref>

#Feel and listen for a misfire.  A misfire in your vehicle will feel like a slight to severe vibration that resonates throughout the vehicle.  You may notice a shudder in the RPMs in the tachometer that coincides with the vibration.  This vibration may be caused by coolant penetrating the cylinders and failing to ignite.<ref name="rf2" />

#Use an OBDII scanner.  If the check engine light comes on in your vehicle, [[Read and Understand OBD Codes|use an OBDII Code Scanner]] to check the error code in the engine’s computer.  The error code may provide you with an insight into what the issue is with the car.<ref name="rf2" />

#Watch the temperature gauge.  A bad head gasket will compromise the vehicle’s ability to regulate temperature.  If the engine in your vehicle is running hotter than normal or begins to overheat, that may be a symptom of a leaking head gasket.<ref name="rf3">http://www.aa1car.com/library/how_to_fix_leaky_head_gasket.htm</ref>

#Jack up the vehicle.  In order to access the low point in the coolant system, you will need to raise the vehicle to a height that allows you to work beneath it.  [[Lift a Car Using a Trolley Jack|Jack up the vehicle]] by inserting a jack beneath one of the vehicle’s designated jack points and lifting and pressing or turning the handle.<ref name="rf4">http://www.dummies.com/home-garden/car-repair/heating-cooling-system/how-to-flush-your-vehicles-cooling-system/</ref>

#Place a container beneath the radiator.  You’ll need a container that is large enough to catch all of fluids you drain from the coolant system of the vehicle twice over.  If you do not have a container that is large enough, choose a bucket that is large enough to hold the capacity of the coolant system once, then pour it into a container you can seal before draining the system into the bucket a second time.<ref name="rf4" />

#Open the petcock on the radiator.  Use a wrench to open the petcock on the bottom of the radiator to drain the coolant and water out of the coolant system and into your container.  Allow it to drain completely before closing the petcock again.<ref name="rf4" />

#Close the petcock and fill the radiator with water.  Once the coolant system is empty, use the same wrench to close the petcock securely.  With the petcock closed, refill the coolant system with water only by opening the radiator cap and pouring it in.<ref name="rf5">http://www.dummies.com/home-garden/car-repair/heating-cooling-system/how-to-flush-your-vehicles-cooling-system</ref>

#Disconnect the thermostat.  The thermostat in your vehicle helps maintain operating temperature by opening to allow the coolant to pass through the radiator and be cooled by air flow when it becomes too hot.  Disconnect the thermostat to prevent it from engaging as you add the sealant.<ref name="rf6">https://www.howacarworks.com/cooling-systems/how-to-replace-a-car-thermostat</ref>

#Start the vehicle with the heater on high.  Once you have refilled the system with water, start the vehicle again to cycle the water through the coolant system so you can flush the remainder of the coolant out when you drain it.<ref name="rf4" />

#Open the petcock to drain the water.  Once the water has had an opportunity to run through the coolant system, reopen the petcock and drain the water into a container as well.  Allow it to drain completely before closing the petcock again.<ref name="rf4" />

#Fill the coolant system with a water and coolant mix.  Refill the coolant system with a 50/50 mixture of coolant and water.  Ask the clerk at your local auto parts store to help you determine which coolant is the appropriate kind for your specific vehicle.<ref name="rf1" />

#Pour in the head gasket sealer.  Pour the head gasket sealer into the open radiator cap.  Read the instructions on the specific brand you purchased for instructions that may be unique to the type of head gasket sealer you chose.<ref name="rf1" />

#Drive the vehicle for fifteen to twenty minutes.  The sealer will need to travel throughout the coolant system in order to reach the head gasket.  Start the motor and allow it to run or drive the vehicle for fifteen or twenty minutes to allow the sealer to travel throughout the system.<ref name="rf1" />

#Re-evaluate the state of the vehicle’s head gasket.  Re-evaluate the head gasket leak in your vehicle using the same qualifications you used to determine there was an issue in the first place.  A head gasket sealer can be a fairly permanent solution in some situations, while it may fail to solve the problem at all in some others.<ref name="rf1" />