K-Seal - don't do it!!!!

[monty1]

used it on a p38 4.6 hse range rover years ago with a great result, car had no issues at all afterwards, the process for using it has to be bang on or it can cause serious heartache

[grivas]

Originally Posted by Dawn

As most of you know, I recently bought a 1.8 for £150. I knew going in, that for that kind of money it probably wanted a head gasket. It drove okay, didn't lose water, but it did gurgle from the heater, and ran hot. After ruling out an airlock, I decided it needed professional help.

On the first day back to work after my own operation, my mum had a fall, has been in hospital ever since, and they are saying she can't come home, so I am in the throes of all that, trying to find a home, finances etc, so getting the car to one of our site gurus just wasn't going to happen given the distance from me.

I was directed to Dave at Derby, who knows these engines and he informed me that the head was completely ruined by K-Seal! I have seen photos of the state of inside the engine before he got to it, and it was just beyond a joke what this stuff had done.

BUT, that isn't the end of my woes. After replacing the head and liners, thermostat (which was totally gummed up with K-seal too) Dave thought he'd got it all, but no....

On the journey to deliver back to my house last night, the car overheated again - another clogged thermostat already, because K-seal is still present in the system.

Dave is coming back after the holidays for the car to attack it again, but I am now terrified of how we are going to get it all out without replacing all the hoses, radiator, heater matrix etc. Its so sad, because the car absolutely purrs now, and is so quiet, but it can't be driven like this or it will ruin the hard work so far.

SO PLEASE, if you're considering this as a cheap, quick fix, or temporary fix, DON'T DO IT!!!!! I know some people have had success with it, without these issues, but is it really worth the risk?

I didn't put this in my car and am dealing with the aftermath of someone else's decision, and its a shame, because its such a nice drive, and mechanically sound in every other way.

Dawn

This is typical of the myriad of morons messing about with these cars, it is near impossible to find a decent R75 or ZT which has not been messed about with, especially 1.8 with their perceived 'head gasket' problem, it is truly shameful that these cars are rapidly disappearing from our roads, and it is just for this kind of reason, I say again too many morons messing about, then others have to pick up the pieces, then what do you expect a car that cost more than 20k when new being sold for 150 quid today.!! remembering this was a luxury car.

[Dawn]

I'm not complaining about the car, I expected issues with the price. I just wanted to give people a heads up not to use k seal on these. �� It might work or it might kill the car. To me, its not worth the risk.

[SD1too]

Originally Posted by Dawn

... thermostat (which was totally gummed up with K-seal too) ...

Thank you for posting this evidence Dawn. There have been many threads documenting KV6 cooling system problems which defy logical explanation. The usual conclusion is a "cracked block" or "dropped liners". I have been suggesting that it's more likely to be the result of K-seal interfering with the thermostat's operation, but there was no proof of either explanation. Now we have it from Dave in Derby, the 75/ZT specialist who attracts much praise from his customers.

Simon

[genpk]

Originally Posted by monty1

used it on a p38 4.6 hse range rover years ago with a great result, car had no issues at all afterwards, the process for using it has to be bang on or it can cause serious heartache

Totally agree,it does work as I put some in one of my kv6 engines 3 or 4 years ago for some minor leaks nd the car has been fine ever since.
I think,as you mention,it needs o be administered properly (pre mix the stuff and apply slowly with the engine running)
I think also some people wait until there's a massive issue with the motor, pour the stuff in hoping it will clog up the hole !!
You pour the bottle straight in you sure will clog up the system alright but the whole system ,,
My heaters and everything still work so it can be used,just has to be done correctly

[SCP440]

Originally Posted by genpk

Totally agree,it does work as I put some in one of my kv6 engines 3 or 4 years ago for some minor leaks nd the car has been fine ever since.
I think,as you mention,it needs o be administered properly (pre mix the stuff and apply slowly with the engine running)
I think also some people wait until there's a massive issue with the motor, pour the stuff in hoping it will clog up the hole !!
You pour the bottle straight in you sure will clog up the system alright but the whole system ,,
My heaters and everything still work so it can be used,just has to be done correctly

I agree if installed correctly it is a great product, if just pored in as a last ditch attempt to keep it on the road you are probably wasting your time.

I think if you examined the contents of the cooling systems of a lot of classic cars they will have K seal in them, the problem is modern cars have cooling systems with much smaller waterways to allow the engines to heat up quicker and reduce emissions. As cars get older these are partially blocked with lime scale and other deposits and once K seal starts clinging to these deposits it is only a matter of time before over heating occurs.

[murphyv310]

One mechanic I know swears blind it cannot ruin our cars cooling system. He has said in the past it will sort leaking radiators but is the wrong product for HGF even if the manufacturer recommends it. No more than an egg cup full and it seals rad leaks fine, so he says.

[genpk]

Originally Posted by murphyv310

One mechanic I know swears blind it cannot ruin our cars cooling system. He has said in the past it will sort leaking radiators but is the wrong product for HGF even if the manufacturer recommends it. No more than an egg cup full and it seals rad leaks fine, so he says.

This is true,if you only have some minor leaks like radiator etc you only need a small amount and it fixes the issue .
As mentioned though, if it's somthing bigger then there really is no substitute for fixing it properly.
I will also mention the last time I used it after the leak stopped I did flush the system and replaced the coolant and thus far the leak has remained sealed.

[NigelOBB]

I can vouch for the damage it causes. Used it years ago on a pajero I own, as an emergency get me home, ran for two years afterwards until the head cracked in usual places. When I pulled the head off nearly all the capillary water ways in the block were choke solid with the stuff. Took two days to clean out. Flushed the system out with fernox, worked really well.. but as above flushed the block and new head with garden hose for about an hour both ways, until no signs of copper..
Far comment to KSeal it does state not suitable for K series engines xx


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[genpk]

Come to think of it, it wasn't K seal I used, it was somthing called chemiweld.
More used for sealing up pourious materials like aluminium.
Worked a treat for any leaks in the head or block and didn't seem to clog up anything.As stated flushed the system 2 days later and it been great ever since.