Head Gasket Failure...A Miracle Cure?....

[bigdaddycain]

Let's assume (and i have no reason to disbelieve the OP) This stuff DOES just buy you some time, say a year or whatever, that at least gives (most of us) the chance to lay our hands on £1200-1500 to get the head replaced properly (without resorting to a loan, remortgage or whatever). To many peeps that are bongoing on a budget, this could be a lifeline. I am of course basing my opinion thus far on what i have read up to this point.

[haydn callow]

I wonder how many Bongos are going to be avaible for sale that have (unknown to the buyer) been Steel Sealed ???? and if it all goes wrong a few months later, would you ever know it had been "bodged" and could you ever prove who in the vehicles history put it in there? I know of a few cases in Oz where it has been used....one at least is running around after 5 years has passed...another failed after only a few days....I suppose it is all down to the amount of damage within the engine when you put it in.
In future it is really going to be 'Buyer Beware'

[missfixit70]

I wonder how many Bongos are going to be avaible for sale that have (unknown to the buyer) been Steel Sealed ???? and if it all goes wrong a few months later, would you ever know it had been "bodged" and could you ever prove who in the vehicles history put it in there? I know of a few cases in Oz where it has been used....one at least is running around after 5 years has passed...another failed after only a few days....I suppose it is all down to the amount of damage within the engine when you put it in.
In future it is really going to be 'Buyer Beware'

Fully agree with that Haydn, but equally there have been a fair few cases where people have spent a lot of money getting the head gasket or head sorted "properly" where it hasn't lasted long at all. The onus is on the seller to be honest about any problems, but the secondhand car market has always been this way, maybe this is just a factor that has to be considered with ANY bongo purchased?
I don't think there is a straightforward answr to this one, the product is out there & it seems to do the job. I think if it happened to me, financially I'd probably have to consider using it, but then I'm not intending selling my bongo on.

[mikeonb4c]

I think it can be taken as read that, since time (or motoring at least ) began, a panicky owner is likely to use a bodge-it product and get rid of potentially expensive trouble quick. It seems to me it is one of the single main reasons people decide to change their car. So I reckon we have to just blank that one off and focus on the matter in hand (as the actress said )

But this is why it would be interesting if AT coud be persuaded to update this thread at intervals. Because its just possible this stuff could - in some cases - postpone trouble for a very long time

[haydn callow]

I know of a few cases in Oz where it has been used....one at least is running around after 5 years has passed...another failed after only a few days...'

Yes, as said above...It can work in some cases long term

[mikeonb4c]

I know of a few cases in Oz where it has been used....one at least is running around after 5 years has passed...another failed after only a few days...'

Yes, as said above...It can work in some cases long term

I know. It'd be nice to have another timeline though. Dossier of evidence and all that......

[Aunt Trumpet]

I wonder how many Bongos are going to be avaible for sale that have (unknown to the buyer) been Steel Sealed ???? and if it all goes wrong a few months later, would you ever know it had been "bodged" and could you ever prove who in the vehicles history put it in there? I know of a few cases in Oz where it has been used....one at least is running around after 5 years has passed...another failed after only a few days....I suppose it is all down to the amount of damage within the engine when you put it in.
In future it is really going to be 'Buyer Beware'
I wonder how many Bongos are going to be avaible for sale that have (unknown to the buyer) been Steel Sealed ???? and if it all goes wrong a few months later, would you ever know it had been "bodged" and could you ever prove who in the vehicles history put it in there? I know of a few cases in Oz where it has been used....one at least is running around after 5 years has passed...another failed after only a few days....I suppose it is all down to the amount of damage within the engine when you put it in.
In future it is really going to be 'Buyer Beware'

It says on the bottle of Steel Seal that it cannot fix large cracks in the head or gasket, if its a small to medium fault you may be ok. With regards to the issue of buying a Steel Sealed vehicle then its down to the honesty of the owner, I'm not planning on selling anytime soon as we love it. Ours is a bit of a dog that needs work, but thats what we like about it. My wife wouldn't part with it I'm sure!

Excellent result AT

It would be really useful/interesting to have you pop a quick update on this thread at intervals as it would then provide a 'timeline' showing that the problem is fixed, and has remained fixed. This really could be a v. useful alternative to going straight to the expense of having a new head/gasket fitted

I'd be only too happy to post regular updates whether good or bad...only time will tell

Which means the stat didn't open while you were bleeding it. If you go for a run then leave the engine running for a few minutes, does the bottom hose get warm at all?

Thats right, it didn't open at all, I'll refer you back to the coolant system thread recently where you rightly predicted that there are probably very little occasions when the stat actually opens at all!, especially during the winter months on short journeys.

Looks like it does.. Do you still have the thermostat fitted.

Yes, I never removed the stat at all. The instructions on the UK website have been adjusted for the English/European market as the American ones say to remove the stat. It apparently leaves no residue in the coolant system as what is not used just dissolves....so they say.

[missfixit70]

Which means the stat didn't open while you were bleeding it. If you go for a run then leave the engine running for a few minutes, does the bottom hose get warm at all?

Thats right, it didn't open at all, I'll refer you back to the coolant system thread recently where you rightly predicted that there are probably very little occasions when the stat actually opens at all!, especially during the winter months on short journeys.

Yup, but after a decent run where the engine gets warmed up properly, if you stop and leave the engine running, the thermostat should open within a few minutes & the bottom hose should get warm if it's working ok. You should get it to open during bleeding as well to make sure there're no airlocks.

[dandywarhol]

I wonder how many Bongos are going to be avaible for sale that have (unknown to the buyer) been Steel Sealed ???? and if it all goes wrong a few months later, would you ever know it had been "bodged" and could you ever prove who in the vehicles history put it in there? I know of a few cases in Oz where it has been used....one at least is running around after 5 years has passed...another failed after only a few days....I suppose it is all down to the amount of damage within the engine when you put it in.
In future it is really going to be 'Buyer Beware'
I wonder how many Bongos are going to be avaible for sale that have (unknown to the buyer) been Steel Sealed ???? and if it all goes wrong a few months later, would you ever know it had been "bodged" and could you ever prove who in the vehicles history put it in there? I know of a few cases in Oz where it has been used....one at least is running around after 5 years has passed...another failed after only a few days....I suppose it is all down to the amount of damage within the engine when you put it in.
In future it is really going to be 'Buyer Beware'

It says on the bottle of Steel Seal that it cannot fix large cracks in the head or gasket, if its a small to medium fault you may be ok. With regards to the issue of buying a Steel Sealed vehicle then its down to the honesty of the owner, I'm not planning on selling anytime soon as we love it. Ours is a bit of a dog that needs work, but thats what we like about it. My wife wouldn't part with it I'm sure!

Excellent result AT

It would be really useful/interesting to have you pop a quick update on this thread at intervals as it would then provide a 'timeline' showing that the problem is fixed, and has remained fixed. This really could be a v. useful alternative to going straight to the expense of having a new head/gasket fitted

I'd be only too happy to post regular updates whether good or bad...only time will tell

Which means the stat didn't open while you were bleeding it. If you go for a run then leave the engine running for a few minutes, does the bottom hose get warm at all?

Thats right, it didn't open at all, I'll refer you back to the coolant system thread recently where you rightly predicted that there are probably very little occasions when the stat actually opens at all!, especially during the winter months on short journeys.

Looks like it does.. Do you still have the thermostat fitted.

Yes, I never removed the stat at all. The instructions on the UK website have been adjusted for the English/European market as the American ones say to remove the stat. It apparently leaves no residue in the coolant system as what is not used just dissolves....so they say.

Probably jammed shut with the Steel Seal

[Aunt Trumpet]

Yup, but after a decent run where the engine gets warmed up properly, if you stop and leave the engine running, the thermostat should open within a few minutes & the bottom hose should get warm if it's working ok. You should get it to open during bleeding as well to make sure there're no airlocks.

Well its been about 6 weeks now and although most of it is local driving, we have taken it on a 60 mile round trip along the motorway to do some xmas shopping, so i guess if it didn't open up then it never will! I'm pretty certain that there are no airlocks as they would have shown themselves by now. It is my belief that most airlocks occur within the front heating system, in fact I think I have proved it. Thats why you need to get the front heaters hot by putting them on recirculation and have the blower set to 1 or 2.

Probably jammed shut with the Steel Seal

I wonder how many Bongos are going to be avaible for sale that have (unknown to the buyer) been Steel Sealed ???? and if it all goes wrong a few months later, would you ever know it had been "bodged" and could you ever prove who in the vehicles history put it in there? I know of a few cases in Oz where it has been used....one at least is running around after 5 years has passed...another failed after only a few days....I suppose it is all down to the amount of damage within the engine when you put it in.
In future it is really going to be 'Buyer Beware'
I wonder how many Bongos are going to be avaible for sale that have (unknown to the buyer) been Steel Sealed ???? and if it all goes wrong a few months later, would you ever know it had been "bodged" and could you ever prove who in the vehicles history put it in there? I know of a few cases in Oz where it has been used....one at least is running around after 5 years has passed...another failed after only a few days....I suppose it is all down to the amount of damage within the engine when you put it in.
In future it is really going to be 'Buyer Beware'

It says on the bottle of Steel Seal that it cannot fix large cracks in the head or gasket, if its a small to medium fault you may be ok. With regards to the issue of buying a Steel Sealed vehicle then its down to the honesty of the owner, I'm not planning on selling anytime soon as we love it. Ours is a bit of a dog that needs work, but thats what we like about it. My wife wouldn't part with it I'm sure!

Excellent result AT

It would be really useful/interesting to have you pop a quick update on this thread at intervals as it would then provide a 'timeline' showing that the problem is fixed, and has remained fixed. This really could be a v. useful alternative to going straight to the expense of having a new head/gasket fitted

I'd be only too happy to post regular updates whether good or bad...only time will tell

Which means the stat didn't open while you were bleeding it. If you go for a run then leave the engine running for a few minutes, does the bottom hose get warm at all?

Thats right, it didn't open at all, I'll refer you back to the coolant system thread recently where you rightly predicted that there are probably very little occasions when the stat actually opens at all!, especially during the winter months on short journeys.

Looks like it does.. Do you still have the thermostat fitted.

Yes, I never removed the stat at all. The instructions on the UK website have been adjusted for the English/European market as the American ones say to remove the stat. It apparently leaves no residue in the coolant system as what is not used just dissolves....so they say.

Probably jammed shut with the Steel Seal

I must admit, I was pretty sceptical about this stuff at first and only tried it as a last resort before the head come off, but I can't argue with the results so far. Whether its a long term fix or not only time will tell, but whatever the outcome I will post it. Perhaps there are a few people out there who don't want it to work?......or maybe find it difficult to beleive that the cooling system doesn't work in the way that they believed it did?...present company exepted of course.......

[dandywarhol]

AT, it doesn't matter whether the heaters are switched to hot or cold - all the lever does is divert cold and cold AIR - the matrices are always flowing coolant, therefore always on hot.

[Aunt Trumpet]

AT, it doesn't matter whether the heaters are switched to hot or cold - all the lever does is divert cold and cold AIR - the matrices are always flowing coolant, therefore always on hot.
AT, it doesn't matter whether the heaters are switched to hot or cold - all the lever does is divert cold and cold AIR - the matrices are always flowing coolant, therefore always on hot.

Ok, sorry. perhaps I need to explain better. you need to get the blowers blowing hot air when they are set to hot. If they are set to hot and they are blowing COLD air you probably have an air lock. Its an indication.

[dandywarhol]

Yep - sounds ok

[Doone]

If they are set to hot and they are blowing COLD air you probably have an air lock. Its an indication.

That's a good point.

[mikeonb4c]

AT, it doesn't matter whether the heaters are switched to hot or cold - all the lever does is divert cold and cold AIR - the matrices are always flowing coolant, therefore always on hot.
AT, it doesn't matter whether the heaters are switched to hot or cold - all the lever does is divert cold and cold AIR - the matrices are always flowing coolant, therefore always on hot.

Ok, sorry. perhaps I need to explain better. you need to get the blowers blowing hot air when they are set to hot. If they are set to hot and they are blowing COLD air you probably have an air lock. Its an indication.

or no thermostat fitted or thermostat stuck open, as these are possibilities?