Head gasket failure is a symptom, not the cause of overheating. The original source of cooling system failure, if still present, must be repaired before attempting to repair your head gasket.
Therefore, for best results, coolant should be temporarily drained and replaced with fresh water. Once repaired, drain Steel Seal from the cooling system and replace with 50/50 coolant or your usual antifreeze of choice.
WATER IN OIL If water is present, you must change the oil and filter before proceeding. Change oil and leave one quart low. Add last quart after the repair is complete.
Anytime you are unsure regarding how much Steel Seal your vehicle requires then contact our tech team on info@steelseal.com.
Make sure the engine is cold and the coolant in the cooling system is clean. Remove the radiator cap and pour the recommended amount of Steel Seal® directly into the radiator. Screw the cap back on. Tip: In vehicles without a radiator cap, Steel Seal® can be filled in via the expansion tank/surge*.
If vehicle is roadworthy: Start engine and drive at freeway speeds for 5 to 10 miles, maintaining between 3,000 - 4,000 RPM, then shut off engine. If vehicle is not roadworthy: Turn heater and fan to maximum. Start engine, run to operating temperature and then run on high idle (1,000 - 1,500 RPM) for 30 minutes . Turn off vehicle and allow to cool completely. Warning: Monitor the temperature throughout the application (see engine temp gauge on dash) and if at any point it threatens to overheat, shut it down immediately!
If necessary, top up with fresh coolant up to the specified mark on the coolant reservoir. Simply leave Steel Seal® in the cooling system and continue driving your vehicle as usual!
We want to ensure you have the absolute best chance of success when using Steel Seal and following some of the steps below will increase your chance of a successful repair.
*If you are introducing Steel Seal via an surge / expansion tank please make sure that there is sufficient room for Steel Seal to go directly into the cooling system and that it does not just sit in surge / expansion tank reservoir.
If you have tried to repair your head gasket with other products, you must flush your cooling system out before using Steel Seal with clean water after disconnecting bottom radiator hose. Because Steel Seal works using a thermochemical reaction and not just by blocking the crack or hole (and who knows where else), any chemicals that are not supposed to be in the cooling system could negatively impact the treatment. This is why we also advise not to use a flushing agent and only perform a cold water flush. If you have flushed system reconnect bottom radiator hose
Prestone Low-Tox—– (Propylene Glycol pH 8-11) — Biodegradable/non-toxic coolant
Prestone conventional green antifreeze – (Ethylene Glycol— pH 8-11) Low solvent effect, silicate stabilizers and high pH provide the best protection
These directions are for people that have a lot of back pressure building up in the cooling system, usually shown as bubbling in the header tank or air forcing past the coolant cap.
We are always happy to help and if you have any questions or concerns reach out to the Tech Team at info@steelseal.com
Getting you back on the road since 1999