What Are Head Gasket Sealants?
Positioned between the engine block and the cylinder head, the head gasket seals the cylinders, creates optimal compression, and avoids coolant and oil leaks. Your vehicle can't run without an effective head gasket, so you'll want to address a blown gasket quickly. Find out what head gasket sealants can do, and how to use the right one for your vehicle.
Suggested AutoZone Products
What Head Gasket Sealants Do
These sealants are designed to fix head gasket failures, but using a sealant isn’t the only way to address a failure. You can use a torque wrench to tighten the cylinder head bolts or change the head gasket altogether. Because the the head gasket is between the cylinder head and the engine block, replacing it can be complicated and require disassembling major engine components. Using a head gasket sealant is the easiest fix. This liquid stop leak is made to track down the source of a leak and fix it quickly so you can get back behind the wheel in less than an hour.
Signs of a Blown Head Gasket
- A mayonnaise- or milk-like mixture in the oil: An off-white creamy appearance on the dipstick signals that the coolant has probably mixed with the oil. This can also be caused by a leaking intake manifold gasket. If the intake gasket is OK, consider changing the oil and replacing the head gasket(s) altogether
- Unresponsive engine: One of the most common signs of a head gasket approaching failure is a slow or unresponsive engine
- White smoke coming from the exhaust pipe: White smoke can show water from the coolant is leaking into the combustion chamber
- Blue smoke coming from the exhaust pipe: Blue smoke often signals oil is leaking into the combustion chamber
Using head gasket sealant is relatively easy. Always read the instructions on the bottle. You may see some variety, but most sealants follow similar steps.
How To Use Head Gasket Sealant
1. Mix the product
Shake the bottle to mix the sealant.
2. Flush the radiator
Use distilled water or a flushing agent until the draining fluid appears clear. This is especially important if the system is dirty, such as if coolant and oil have mixed.
3. Determine how much sealant you need
It will vary depending on the number of cylinders.
4. Prepare the radiator
Fill the radiator with water, but leave an appropriate amount of room for sealant.
5. Warm up the vehicle
Let the vehicle idle a few minutes and turn the heater on high to get the engine nice and warm.
6. Pour in the head gasket sealant
Add the sealant slowly and replace the radiator cap. (Note: Some vehicles do not have radiator caps. The fluid and sealant are added through the radiator over flow reservoir.) Let the vehicle idle for about 45 minutes while monitoring the temperature gauge and ensuring that the temperature stays within the normal range.
Keeping your vehicle’s head gasket intact and working properly is critical. If you think you’ve got a leak, stock up on head gasket sealant at AutoZone.
