A head gasket has one of the trickiest but most vital jobs within a car’s engine. It is the seal between the engine block and cylinder head, exposed to both high- and low-pressure levels, in addition to a wide range of temperatures. It seals the combustion gases within the engine and keeps out the coolant that is designed to cool the engine cylinder.
A head gasket only works as long as the compression seal is intact – the fact that nothing can get past the seal ensures that the engine works perfectly. This is why a leak in that seal can be so devastating for the car’s performance in both the short and long-term.
Head gaskets perform a task which puts an incredible amount of stress on them, so it’s not surprising that some will fail. However, this can potentially be disastrous as far as the drivability of the car is concerned.
There are two major ways the head gasket can fail:
Letting combustion gases leak out Letting coolant leak in
If the combustion gases leak out, the engine’s performance drops. If the coolant leaks in, it won’t be going around the cooling system, meaning the engine will overheat, and could lead to a blown head gasket.
Taking too long to spot the problem will hit your wallet hard with expensive head gasket repair costs. The only thing you can do is take the car to a mechanic and get a quote for replacing the gasket and associated engine damage.
However, there are a number of common symptoms you can keep in mind to help you diagnose this issue long before it gets to that point. If you do, then luckily there’s an easy way to fix a blown head gasket without replacing it.
Yes. K-Seal will permanently repair and fix most head gasket failures including:
Coolant to cylinder leaks Cylinder to coolant leaks Blown head gaskets Coolant to oil leaks (in certain situations)
The best and most effective head gasket sealer is manufactured by K-Seal – and we say that with confidence. All of the leading roadside repair and recovery organisations use K-Seal technology because it mixes successfully with all kinds of antifreeze and engine coolant in order to repair failures – preventing combustion gases escaping and coolant leaking into the engine cylinder.
Although your head gasket could be the source of your engine troubles, it might not be the only component you need to take a look at. Select an engine part in the interactive diagram below to explore your engine and the important components that keep everything ticking over.
If you want to avoid expensive mechanic bills but don’t have the technical knowledge or experience needed to resolve a leaking water pump in any other way, K-Seal is the option for you – it can fix most leaks in the water pump casing and in the seals.
The engine may be overheating, which you may not be able to ascertain until the warning light comes on. A general idea of what the operating temperature should be might help, but only if it can be easily measured Coolant may be leaking around the water pump through the weep holes on the casing. There will be a puddle on the floor when the car has stood in the same position for a few hours – all you have to do then is follow the leak to its source The water pump may be making more noise than it usually does when the engine is running (though this will mean that you have to know how much noise it should usually make). The source of the louder noise will probably come from a defective impeller or an impeller that is coming away from its shaft, in which case it will have to be replaced
The cost of replacing a water pump will vary considerably depending on a number of factors, such as the garage you visit and the car you drive. Although the cost of a water pump will usually be somewhere between $50 and $75, the amount charged for labour will boost the total you pay. Some water pump replacement jobs can cost as much as $500. It’s therefore important to get quotes from a range of local mechanics so you can be sure you’re getting the best deal.
The water pump ensures that enough coolant liquid is flowing around the cooling system and engine in order to remove sufficient heat to prevent the engine overheating. The higher the load on the engine, the more the pump will circulate in order to deal with the greater levels of heat produced as the engine works harder.
Inside the pump is an impeller (which might be made of either metal or plastic) with blades that push the coolant through the pump and out around the engine. The impeller is then mounted on a shaft with a seal assembly supporting it and allowing it to work without being impeded in any way.
The pump circulates coolant via centrifugal force – a belt attached to both the pump and the crankshaft keeps the pump spinning. If the engine overheats, it can break down completely and be extremely expensive to repair, which is why the pump is so important in getting the coolant to the places it needs to get to. Once it has circulated through the engine, the coolant goes to the radiator to be cooled down before returning to the pump to be circulated once more.
There will always be some water pumps that malfunction unexpectedly for a variety of reasons and therefore have to be fixed or replaced completely. One main issue that can be encountered, and which K-Seal is capable of fixing, is the casing developing a leak. This allows coolant to escape which means it doesn’t circulate through the engine and bring its temperature down.
The reasons why a water pump seal might begin to leak include:
High temperatures It is inevitable that at some point the polished rubber surface of the seal will succumb to the high temperatures it is subjected to every time the vehicle’s ignition is switched on. Tiny cracks or holes will subsequently develop and let coolant out.
Abrasive particles It is possible for tiny abrasive particles to get into the pump and damage the seal, such as in tap water that has been mixed with antifreeze to create the coolant (this is why you should only use soft, distilled water if mixing coolant yourself).
Electrolysis Corrosive inhibitors in the seal plating deteriorate in effectiveness over time and the coolant becomes more abrasive the more it is used, which is why regular flush-and-fills are recommended. As the inhibitors deteriorate and the coolant’s abrasiveness increases, electrolysis on the seal face occurs and coolant is allowed to seep through it.
Although your water pump could be the source of your engine troubles, it might not be the only component you need to take a look at. Select an engine part in the interactive diagram below to explore your engine and the important components that keep everything ticking over.
K-Seal will permanently repair and fix most leaks in the radiator or radiator casing. Although the radiator may be one of the cheaper components in the car engine it can still cost hundreds to have it repaired or replaced. Just one bottle of K-Seal could save you a lot of money by fixing an engine coolant leak instead of you having to replace the parts.
The most common symptoms of radiator failure relate to coolant leaks. You should check your car radiator’s water or coolant levels every two weeks or so. On most cooling systems, there will be a visible maximum and minimum level indicator that car owners can use to judge the level of coolant – ideally it will always be between those two marks. Coolant levels will decrease naturally, but a large drop over a short space of time will indicate a car radiator leak.
Other symptoms will include:
Frequent engine overheating – keep an eye on the temperature gauge Puddle underneath the engine – this will indicate a leaking radiator If you’re willing to keep topping the radiator up and the symptoms don’t worsen, your engine will keep running for a time, but eventually the engine will break down. Strictly speaking, you shouldn’t drive at all once you’ve discovered one of these symptoms.
The cost of flushing a car radiator will vary depending on whether you do it or employ a mechanic to do the job professionally.
If you do it yourself, you’ll be able to keep costs down and just pay for the new coolant, which should be around $50.
If you go to a mechanic, the cost will be around $90 depending on your car make and model.
Unlike a radiator in a building, which is needed to increase the temperature of its immediate surroundings, the main function of a car’s radiator is to cool the internal combustion engine that powers the vehicle.
The radiator is designed to remove the heat generated by the engine to the air in order to regulate the engine temperature and prevent overheating. If the engine overheats then it will stop working and have to be replaced, which may be more expensive than simply buying a new car.
It is important to understand how a car radiator works so that you know how to identify any problems that might affect it and the car as a whole.
An engine needs to burn fuel to run, a process which naturally produces an immense amount of heat. This requires the engine to be cooled as much as possible so that the pistons do not break down and destroy the entire system. This is where the radiator, which is part of the engine’s cooling system, comes in.
The steps involved in a car radiator cooling an engine are:
The coolant in an engine is passed through tubes inside the radiator, where heat it has absorbed from the engine is dissipated into the atmosphere, before the coolant returns to the engine. Coolant enters the pipes in an overheated state, causing it to become highly pressurised (aided by turbulence inside the radiator pipes), at which point the radiator cap opens at a predetermined pressure point. This releases the heat and allows any excess coolant to escape into an overflow tank attached to the side of the radiator. That coolant is then returned to the radiator when its temperature has sufficiently lowered. Although there are slight variations to the radiator and cooling system in general from model to model (especially in older cars versus newer models), this is the process that the majority of systems employ, and knowing how they work will help you when it comes to diagnosing any issues that might occur with them.
The main reason for radiator failure is a leak, which can lead to the cooling system failing. If the coolant has not been checked or topped up properly the inside of the system will begin to rust and become clogged. Corrosion will eventually result in small holes developing. This will result in engine coolant loss, and a need for car radiator repair.
Although your radiator could be the source of your engine troubles, it might not be the only component you need to take a look at. Select an engine part in the interactive diagram below to explore your engine and the important components that keep everything ticking over.
t isn’t easy to recognize the symptoms of heater core leak for what they are. You might not know that some of these symptoms signify a problem with the heater core, which is why it’s important to identify and deal with them as quickly as possible. They include:
Windows fog up on the inside Fruity smell inside and outside the vehicle The vehicle uses more coolant than usual Cold interior You may also find that your heater core is making gurgling noises or hissing sounds from behind the dashboard.
While the cost of a replacement heater core part isn’t particularly high, there is a large amount of labour involved. The dashboard has to be completely removed to access the area where the heater core is located and, while the actual job of replacing the heater core isn’t particularly complicated for a competent mechanic, the whole task can take several hours. It may take longer depending on the type of vehicle being worked on, and this means that the costs of the job may stretch into the thousands, and certainly the hundreds.
If you’re looking for a heater core leak quick fix, then you’re in luck — K-Seal will fix most leaks in the heater core. When using K-Seal for this type of repair make sure that the heater is switched to maximum so that it flows through the pipes and reaches the leak, permanently sealing it.
Want to get hold of a bottle to fix your heater core? Use our simple stockist search facility and get back on the road – fast.
The heater core is also known as the heater matrix. It works in a similar way to the car radiator but, instead of removing heat to the outside air, it transfers heat to the vehicle interior to help keep you warm.
The heater core is a small radiator which uses conductive brass or metal tubing and a fan to transfer heat from hot coolant making its way around the cooling system out into the air of the interior of the vehicle. In this way it can provide heat to the driver and passengers during cold weather.
The tubing that makes up the heater core can become clogged over time with dirt and other contaminants that can be picked up by the coolant if the heater core is not flushed out and replaced on a regular basis. This will eventually lessen its effectiveness and it may stop working completely if it is not maintained.
Additionally, leaks can be created via electrolysis, which is a chemical reaction that sees electrical current flowing through the coolant and eating away at the tubing of the heater core. It can eventually make the heater core tubing spring a leak. The hole created may only be the size of a pinhead, but it will be enough to ensure that the system stops working properly, and will only get worse with time.
Although your heater core could be the source of your engine troubles, it might not be the only component you need to take a look at. Select an engine part in the interactive diagram below to explore your engine and the important components that keep everything ticking over.
A cracked engine block can cause a range of problems. Ultimately, since the circulation system that cools the engine is comparatively fragile, a cracked engine block will lead to coolant leaking out of the area it is needed and leaving the engine to overheat. If left untreated, this will lead to engine failure and may result in the vehicle having to be written off. A cracked engine block can result in:
Oil and antifreeze mixing Engine overheating Low engine compression Excessive engine smoke Visible crack in block
A failure in the engine block will leave you stranded and more often than not facing a huge repair bill. The cost of repairing a cracked engine block can vary considerably depending on the garage you visit, the severity of the crack and the car you drive. The technique used to repair the crack can also affect the total and you may have to weigh up the sense in repairing it when it may be more cost-effective to buy a new engine or even a new car.
K-Seal will permanently repair most engine block failures including:
Engine coolant leaks Cracked engine blocks Porous blocks Core plug or freeze plug failure With a replacement block costing thousands, it’s well worth trying to fix the problem with K-Seal before going down this route. K-Seal will seal the cracks in engine blocks that cause coolant leaks, to get you back on the road and save you a small fortune.
Want to get hold of a bottle to fix your engine block? Use our simple stockist search facility and get back on the road – fast.
The engine or cylinder block is the key component of an internal combustion engine, where the power to drive the vehicle is generated by igniting a fuel/air mixture to produce an explosion.
The engine block performs a number of functions, including assisting with the pumping of water from the radiator to the different parts of the engine to cool them down; housing pistons in several cylinders that move the vehicle’s crankshaft; sealing in the lubricating oil via the oil pan attached to the bottom, and acting as the housing for the various valves, gaskets and seals that work together to keep the engine and the car as a whole running safely.
Heat is the primary enemy of the engine block. If it overheats, the metal will become stressed and will eventually fail, leading to a crack.
Another problem is the porous engine block, which is often the result of a casting defect at the manufacturing stage. This affects certain engines, most notoriously the old V8 used in Range Rovers before they were fitted with BMW engines.
Although your engine block could be the source of your engine troubles, it might not be the only component you need to take a look at. Select an engine part in the interactive diagram below to explore your engine and the important components that keep everything ticking over.
The symptoms of cylinder head failure are varied – it is important that drivers are able to recognise them as quickly as possible so any damage can be limited. If the cylinder head fails, it will lead to the engine (and by extension the vehicle) breaking down.
Drop in coolant levels Drop in oil levels Drop in engine performance Smoke coming out of the exhaust The most common reason for cylinder head failure is overheating caused by coolant loss, head gasket failure or restricted flow of coolant. In extreme cases a cracked or damaged cylinder head can result in terminal damage to the entire engine.
K-Seal will permanently repair most cracks or leaks in the cylinder head where there is coolant loss. You simply shake the bottle, pour and go!
Want to get hold of a bottle to fix your cylinder head? Use our simple stockist search facility and get back on the road – fast.
A cylinder head sits on top of the engine block and covers its cylinders, thus creating the combustion chamber. The cylinder head creates the space for the passages that feed air and fuel to the cylinders, and is sealed in place by the head gasket.
Due to constantly changing temperatures and high pressure levels, the head has to be robust enough to withstand the demands placed on it without cracking or breaking. It is a complicated and vital part of the engine and vehicle as a whole, meaning that any problem it might develop should be repaired as quickly as possible.
The cylinder head allows the engine to perform at maximum capacity by connecting to the intake and exhaust manifolds to allow the quick burn of fuel and air that moves the engine’s pistons. The intake manifold feeds air into the head, where it is combusted with fuel to produce exhaust gases, which are expelled through the exhaust manifold. It’s important that the intake and exhaust valves, which allow the entry and exit of relevant gases, open and close at the correct times to keep the engine running smoothly.
The most common reason for cylinder head failure is overheating caused by, for example, coolant loss, head gasket failure or restricted flow of coolant. In extreme cases a cracked or damaged cylinder head can result in terminal damage to the entire engine! You must deal with any problems as soon as possible to try and prevent this from happening.
Cylinder heads can also warp because of the tremendous pressure placed on them by extreme temperature changes. This means that it is no longer providing a flat surface to hold the head gasket in the right position, which can lead to expensive problems later on in the form of major repairs or total engine replacement being required.
Warping is a particular problem for cylinder heads made of aluminium. Different engines have different levels of tolerance for cylinder head warping – some can withstand a high amount of warping while still working effectively. If your cylinder head does warp, you may be able to take it to a mechanic who specialises in realigning them – if not, you will probably need a replacement.
Your cylinder head isn’t the only part of your engine that might be suffering. Select an engine part in the interactive diagram below to explore your engine and the important components that keep everything ticking over.
Symptoms of intake manifold failure can be difficult to identify as such, so it’s important that you are familiar with problems that might seem relatively minor, but which could be an indication of significant intake manifold issues.
Difference in air-to-fuel ratio resulting in backfires and rough idling Milky-looking engine oil Coolant leaking onto the ground under the vehicle while it is stationary Regular or quick engine overheating
If there is a coolant leak then, in most cases, using K-Seal will help to quickly and permanently stop the leak, saving you a lot of time and money. Use our simple stockist search facility to find a bottle and get back on the road.
An intake manifold directs the mixture of air and fuel to the right cylinder to be combusted so it can power the engine. Additionally, it conducts coolant through to the cylinders in order to reduce the temperature of the engine. The intake manifold is attached to the top of the engine by the intake manifold gasket, which has to be monitored as it is susceptible to cracking under the heat and pressure and allowing coolant or oil to escape.
The intake manifold uses pistons to conduct the air-fuel mixture and the coolant through the engine block via the valves to the relevant areas. It is important that these mixtures are distributed evenly, otherwise the engine will not work as efficiently.
Intake manifolds fail because of the high levels of constantly-changing heat and pressure they are subjected to on a daily basis. The strain they are put under inevitably leads to cracks developing – it is up to the driver to diagnose the problem and deal with it at the earliest opportunity.
Although your intake manifold could be the source of your engine troubles, it might not be the only component you need to take a look at. Select an engine part in the interactive diagram below to explore your engine and the important components that keep everything ticking over.