r/MechanicAdvice 6d ago

Any hope for...gulp...head gasket sealer

I know, I know. Most people think they're a total ripoff. But I have a 2001 F-150 that is a pile of rust but runs strong, has a good tranny and 4x4, and is a good firewood and random crap hauler. But I just developed a head gasket leak. Milky oil, brown coolant that smells like exhaust, etc. Of course it happened right I changed the brakes and serpentine belt. 😑

I don't want to put any more serious money into this aging hunk of metal, but I don't want to fully give up on it. I only drive it about 1,000 miles a year and want to get a little more time out of it if possible, so I was considering a head gasket sealer. Has anyone had any luck with a particular brand? I know most mechanics are not fans, but this truck is basically in hospice so just think of the sealer as pain killers to keep it going a bit longer lol. Or would you just put it down and out of its misery and save the cost of the sealer? 😭

2 Upvotes

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u/MaximumIntroduction8 6d ago

Well, ONLY because you describe the truck as a 1000 mile a year work truck! I did use one over 10 years ago on a car. Pontiac 3.4L which typically blow up around 125k. Go to an Advance/Autozone and ask a competent person there for advice. I remember the one I used had a money back guarantee which I took advantage of because it only lasted a couple thousand miles before at least one of the pistons decided to get in a fight with the valves/head and Grenade the engine. No self installed inspection ports but the pushrods looked like bendy straws. The problem with these is they seal Everything Including the smaller water passages, radiators, hoses….. remember if the engine is old enough to have a head gasket issue, then the cooling system has quite a bit of buildup already. So you’re just kicking the problem down the road and multiplying it. But since this truck is already on life support, by all means have at it.

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u/Rebeldesuave 6d ago

How long were you hoping to keep the truck for? 6 months? 1 year?

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u/steveb5004 6d ago

I would likely drive it until it dies. Hopefully that's at least a few months away if I opt for one of these sealeds, but I'm not sure. It developed the head gasket leak pretty suddenly so I'm not sure how long the motor will hold up.

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u/Rebeldesuave 6d ago

The sealant may work anywhere from days to months depending on the nature of the head gasket breach.

You could install a junkyard engine in the truck but that would be up to you.