Preventive action against Head Gasket blown with sealer?

No!!! You don't ever want to add that gook to a healthy cooling system. It's only a band-aid if the damage is already done. If you are saying your head gasket is already blown, then yes, adding sealer may buy you some extra miles...

The number 1 preventative of head gasket failure in these engines is EGR circuit cleaning, stem to stern. Oil catch cans are also likely worth the effort but only in addition to EGR cleaning.

 

Any sealer you add to the radiator can only reach areas where the coolant goes. That covers only 3 of the 6 possible failure points in a head gasket.If a gasket fails in between 2 cylinders, the sealant won't touch it. Likewise, if the failure is between a cylinder and the crankcase, or between an oil passage and the outside of the engine, the sealer won't touch it. (See photo) I think the best prevention is to drive gently and avoid overheating the engine.

 

Interested to see what others think as well although I wouldn't agree with the video

 

Get the egr circuit cleaned front to back.If you are really worried about the head gasket, you could also swap out the engine water pump and thermostat .

I’m at 183 k miles (or over 300 k km’s) and have done the egr circuit twice and swapped out the water pump and thermostat .

Take care of these things and you should be good for awhile.

 

Been a A.S.E mechanic for over 30 years. If you have a leaking head gasket and you want your car to be reliable . Only 1 thing will truly fix it replace the head gasket and resurface the cyclinder head .

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Any sealant you add to coolant, will also clog the radiator, and heater core.
To the engine, it will clog the oil cooler, plug up the pressure switch.
As everyone else has said, do the preventative maintenance to reduce the risk of failure.
And if you are going to worry about something that "might" happen, perhaps a bicycle would be less expensive.

 

If Scotty Kilmer said it (and it’s on the internet) it has to be true.

 

Hey ray what was the milage first and second time you cleaned that egr cooler?

 

120 k miles first go round then 173 k miles for round #2.

I’ll probably keep a 50 k miles interval going forward to ensure it stays clear.

I also changed the engine water pump at 173 k miles along with the engine coolant. That might be another good thing to do is keep the coolant fresh .

Hope that helps .

 

Did you have the OCC installed beetween 1st and 2nd?.
I also wonder how dirty was it after 53k miles.
I already did over30k mi since last complete cleaning and HG replacement a year ago but didnt install OCC. Just clraned the bottom of TB twice. It had about 2 oz (50cc) of oil there each time.
Engine burns less than 1qt of oil each oil change interval of 10k mi. Not bad.

 

Hello Ray- can you tell me.... did you evaluate how clogged the cooler was at each of these cleanings? Also, have you had the EGR valve replaced and, if so, at what mileage? As I do, I think I’ve read somewhere you use only top tier fuel. Thanks!

 

Scotty is to cars what Rush Limbaugh is to truth

 

There was carbon buildup but not completely clogged.

I try to stay ahead of the issue.

I replace the cooler and valve at the same time as a one piece assembly.

I do use top tier fuel.

Good luck and keep us posted .

 

I installed the catch can at the same time as the second egr cooler swap, so about 11 k miles on the setup.

Since the OCC install, I haven’t collected much spooge, maybe 6 ounces.

My oil consumption rate is about a quart every 5k miles, so a little bit more than what you are doing.

There were carbon deposits each time, so I’m using a swap every 50 k miles as my plan going forward, which I’ll pair with the engine coolant swap.

Hope that helps .

 

Im keeping your invitation from last year. Next time im in the bay area @Raytheeagle