Citroen XM Forum

Hi all

I started work on project rover a couple of hours ago, bought it cheap with a suspected head gasket failure, it was not the usual choccy milkshake in the sump but compression in the coolant, liners could of dropped or head cracked but i digress.
The head is stripped and on the bench now and i was told one dose of k seal was added to try and sort the problem out to no avail, i think the water pump went, loosing water, which caused the engine to overheat and ruin the head gasket itself as there is k seal stains all over the inside of the timing belt covers so it wouldnt have worked anyway.
sooo i have it all stripped here in front of me and i can say now although i would not use these engine sealants ive heard k seal was a different animal altogether (apparently created to sort out the big issue of liners dropping in k-series powertrain engines) and would make a long lasting repair.........dont do ity though i have pictures i will upload later but believe me when i say it is not at all good for your engine!!!!!!

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Dean wrote:......... believe me when i say it is not at all good for your engine!!!!!!

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I believe...

Not really surprising that adding a congealing sealant to your engine isn't good for it.

exactly, never thought it would block all the waterways in the cylinderhead though

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Ohh..I think that's bad...

But even before that it must insulate the metal so cause localised overheating.

yes ideed it does, it sets on contact with a hot surface rather than when exposed to air so the liners were coated in the horrible crud to about a .75mm thickness i would guess but that wpont help heat transfere as you say.
Before you look at the photo's i must say the rad and thermostat were removed last week and the system was flushed by hose from the flow aand return from the rad and from the stat housing with a hose untill it ran clear.
The block was full o red crud about 1/4 of the way up the liners and all head waterways were like the ones pictured.
Ive never used the stuff and wouldnt like to, id rather sort the problem out but this is scary stuff.

no thats not my tea....or the mrs best mugs






As an aside, can you guess why compression was getting into the waterways

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Sorry to be controvertial but ive used it with no problems whatsoever. If you are against congealant as you call it then why do Valeo specifically recommend Forte stop leak for their OE heater matrixes on Citroens?

Im not saying that it wont leave a trace in your engine as thats kind of what its meant to do....travel round and plug gaps but as the cooling system is sealed then it wont escape and will remain as part of the coolant.

There are a few "stop leak" products that dont have great reviews, but Forte stop leak and K seal are recommended by the motor trade as proven performers...

Just my two penneth worth

Forte sealer cures on contact with air so stay liquid in the cooling system, K-seal cures using heat so coats all hot components. Coatings create insulation so can cause localised overheating and lack of heat transfer into the water.

Hi

Another view is always welcome Vince, but i dont see why valeo recomend a sealant, i would say the cure is to replace the failed item not try to repair it with a sealant, ive had people use k-seal and swear by it but im just not convinced myself, not after seeing my first engine thats been run on the stuff.

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