Anybody believe in this stuff. I think my head gasket is starting to go and a friend said to try it but it sounds to good to be true.

 

Hence, why I don't believe in it or related products and won't use them.

Often, they cause more harm to the radiator, heater core, engine cooling passages creating an even costlier fix later on.

What makes you think the HG is going?

 

Run away from this stuff.

What symptoms are you experiencing that make you think your HG is going?

 

Thats a $20 dollar start to a $1000 dollar engine rebuild. In other words don't. Get you a upper gasket kit and replace the headgasket and replace all those old leaking gaskets and hoses while you are at it.

 

My coolant is slowly disappearing, but not on the ground or in the oil. I figure it is burning it. I get a little puff of white smoke when I first start the truck but after about 30 seconds it clears up.

 

If you want to know for sure, do a coolant pressure check.with all the spark pluga remove. If it won't hold coolant pressure, when you turn the engine over it will blow coolant out of the cylinder that is leaking. You should be able to hear where the coolant is leaking out, if that is the problem.

If it is the HG, every day you drive it destroys the main bearings a little bit. How's your oil look?

 

my dad used that in his F-250 with the 5.4L. It sealed for about a month, but then it started losing coolant faster than before. he was putting in about a gallon every 3 or 4 days. So, i guess the only way that will work is if you plan to redo the HG within a month or so and want to very temporarily fix a leak. But i agree with everyone else, i would never use that stuff.

 

Another "liquid genie in a bottle" thread huh? If that stuff actually worked... mechanics would have no job....

 

My oil is clean, that was the first thing I checked and I check it everyday to keep an eye on it. I topped up my rad a little over a week ago and this weekend topped it up again but it took a very small amount. If it wasn't for the puff of white smoke when I first start the motor I would never have suspected the head gasket.

 

Is it using any antifreeze? It is all possible to be condensation in the cylinders since you live in an arear where it has humidty and gets cool at night?

 

Well, that's certainly an indicator. Only way to know for sure is to do a cooling system pressure test. Sears has kits for around $50.

 

Have you checked the water hoses on the back of the block? Not just the bypass hose.

 

Remember: if you do this, you crank it over with the spark plugs still OUT. Otherwise you'll hydrolock the engine, and the blown Head Gasket will only be part of your troubles.

 

The only snake oil cure-alls that might work are the ones that say "MIRACLE" on the side of the bottle.
You didn't say which truck or engine you have.
I recently had a slow, steady loss of coolant, but no drips, coolant in the oil, steam vapor in the exhaust. After a few weeks or months, it started to leak more after running for a while. It was very difficult to see the deposit on the upper block where it was leaking out of the driver's side of the head gasket.

 

Don't use that crap, the p/o of mine did and I had to clean all the crap out of the oil and coolant passages when the HG went for good. Here's some of the chunks of gunk that came out - not "tiny" by any means, one coolant passage was completely blocked.

 

It was there in the post~

 

If my head gasket is leaking coolant into the cylinder should the motor not run like crap from having water in the combustion?

 

I'm investigating the same thing right now. Theoretically, if one cylinder gets water in it, the spark plug should be clean. The piston top should be clean also if you could see that. Maybe you would see bubbles coming up out of the radiator cap.

But they can also leak to the outside of the block. At least it appears so. I found a small dripping leak under the exhaust manifold which appears to be about the place the head gasket would be. There are coolant hoses there also. Gotta check that out but apparently not unheard of on the 5vzfe.

 

It is not real hard to replace the head gaskets on these engines.

 

I know, I changed the head gaskets on my 93. I'm just trying to find out if it is a head gasket or something else. I may be wrong, but I would think that if I am getting water in the combustion that my engine should sputter. I am going to pull the spark plugs this afternoon, is there anything I can look for on the plug as a sign that there is coolant leaking into the cylinder?