What is a head gasket?
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.
How does a head gasket work?
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.
Why do head gaskets fail?
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.
How to fix a blown head gasket without replacing it
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.
Can K-Seal fix my head gasket?
Using K-Seal, K-Seal HD or K-Seal Ultimate 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)
Why motorists worldwide choose K-Seal to fix their head gaskets
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.
Scientifically proven and tested
Tested independently by the engineering department of the University of Brighton to ensure that the products meet industry standards, K‑Seal, K‑Seal Ultimate and K‑Seal HD (designed for use in large vehicles such as HGVs and tractors) are the first choice of motorists on a global scale.
Want to get hold of a bottle to fix your head gasket? Use our simple stockist search facility and get back on the road – fast.
Could other parts of my engine be affected?
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.