Head gasket repair (bodge)

[tight fart]

My sons had a few problems with his car and I’m not sure what to do.
It’s. 2008 1.3 petrol ford Ka.
It started when the alternator belt came off, he took it to a garage to get put back on
and they diagnosed a seized water pump, they replaced both and off he went.
A short while after it overheated.
He took it back and now it needs a head gasket.
Now he only needs the car for another 5 weeks to get to work.
I can’t be fussed to do the head gasket (they quoted £600 for)
Are any of the head gasket sealers worth trying?

[Thats What She Said]

If it's only for 5 weeks I'd throw a bottle of Steel Seal in it. If it works, great. If not, it's only a few quid wasted. Follow the instructions though.

[PositronicRay]

I've used steel seal, worked for me. It probably depends on how bad the gasket is, gotta be worth a shot.

[tight fart]

The car stopped running, my lad got it towed to me, I filled it up with water and tried to start it.
No joy, after trying it a few times I released the header tank cap to add some more water only
to find it pressureised. I'm guessing from the combustion chamber leaking badly.
I then took the plugs out and spun the engine over and quite a bit of water came out.
I'm assuming thats going to be to bad for Steel seal?

He has had 2 quotes £500 to £600, that sounds a lot to me unless theres more involved than i'm thinking?

[aka_kerrly]

WBAC type , a nationwide scrap car collection service or advertise it locally for sale at a price that would attract someone who can purchase a head gasket kit, oil, coolant & additional supplies for £100-200

Edited by aka_kerrly on Wednesday 29th March 17:14

[Thats What She Said]

tight fart said:

The car stopped running, my lad got it towed to me, I filled it up with water and tried to start it.
No joy, after trying it a few times I released the header tank cap to add some more water only
to find it pressureised. I'm guessing from the combustion chamber leaking badly.
I then took the plugs out and spun the engine over and quite a bit of water came out.
I'm assuming thats going to be to bad for Steel seal?

He has had 2 quotes £500 to £600, that sounds a lot to me unless theres more involved than i'm thinking?

£500-600 sounds about right once you factor in £100 or so for a head skim and then I imagine they will also throw a new cambelt on and waterpump while in there.

Throw a bottle of steel seal in and see what happens. It will either fix it or it wont.

[gt40steve]

Timing chain on a 2008 Ford Ka (presume it is not a 'Fiat' Ka mk2) & he's already had a new ( auxiliary belt driven ) water pump.

See if you can find a good garage to do the head gasket, but agree if they need / want to skim the cylinder head the price goes up !

[tight fart]

Bottle of Steel seal it is, I’ll report back.

[tight fart]

Can’t even get it to start now, leaking so badly plugs are wet, I’ve removed them a few time and spun the engine over, dried the plugs but they get wet as soon as I try.

[stevieturbo]

wet with what ?

water or fuel ?

[tight fart]

Water, I’ve dried and warmed the plugs up, used a bit of easy start but no joy.

[Thats What She Said]

If the plugs are getting that wet, that quickly, the head has likely warped. I'm guessing it was driven too long while overheated.

It sounds like it's good for the scrappers..

[Krikkit]

If the plugs are wet with water you've no chance with anything except a head skim, and even then you might find the head is like a banana from overheating. I'd just eBay it.

[Evoluzione]

User name checks out

[Skyedriver]

Just a thought, is this an old "Crossflow" engine with a water heated inlet manifold?
Had a Cortina that actually water locked the cylinders after the manifold or gasket failed........

I've used Kseal before to great effect but it won't work if the head gasket or head has failed that badly.