Engine Block Sealer

An engine block provides the power for a vehicle. It is called a block because of its solid cast construction. It houses a variety of crucial elements that make a vehicle run. While the engine block itself is designed to be very durable, it does often need repairs. If the engine block fails, the vehicle will not function until the block is either repaired or completely replaced. Engine blocks are constructed of cast iron typically but in the latter part of the 1990s, other materials were introduced. Engine blocks may now be made of plastic or other similar materials that are designed to be lighter and more efficient. Cast iron engine blocks are of course much heavier and require several people to remove and repair them.

Engine block sealers are used to repair engine blocks. These sealants allow specific parts of the engine block to be sealed correctly thus allowing the block to function correctly. Sealants are typically made from a variety of materials including plastic, silicone, rubber, foam and other various metallic-based components. Head gaskets or engine blocks can be repaired with engine block sealer. These sealers typically include sodium silicate as the main ingredient. The sealer is actually a liquid until it dries. The liquid effectively fills in the crack in the block and then dries when the engine heats up. As the sealer dries it hardens. Engine block sealer can be a very inexpensive fix for cracks or small holes and has proven to be very effective although it is important to understand that this is intended to be a temporary solution.

In order to use engine block sealer you will first need to completely drain the water and anti-freeze from the radiator of your vehicle. If you use engine block sealer on a vehicle that has not been properly drained, it will not work properly. Anti-freeze stops the sealer from hardening correctly. There is a petcock on the bottom of a vehicle’s radiator and this will need to be opened to allow the liquid in the radiator to completely drain. Be certain to drain the radiator liquid into a pan for disposal and keep this liquid away from pets and children.

The sealer that you purchase should include instructions for use. You should be certain to follow these instructions carefully. Typically, the sealer will need to be mixed with a specific amount of water. Once you have correctly mixed the sealer according to the directions on the package, you simply pour it into your radiator. You will then need to start your vehicle’s engine and allow the vehicle to idle for approximately thirty minutes in order to allow the sealer to settle into any cracks and/or pin holes. You can drive your vehicle during this process if you wish. It is actually recommended that you drive the vehicle for a full day in order to allow the treatment enough time to thoroughly dry.

Once you have ensured that the sealer has had enough time to dry completely, you will need to again drain your radiator. Do this in the same way as you did in the first step and then add new anti-freeze to the radiator. You should make plans to purchase a new head gasket or radiator, whichever one you need, as soon as possible. If you are not planning to keep your vehicle for much longer or if you do not feel that your car or truck is worth the time and money that it would take to completely replace a head gasket or radiator, engine block sealer is an excellent way to stop small leaks and ensure against further damage to your engine.

Be certain that you remember to never allow engine block sealer and anti-freeze to be in your engine at the same time. Make sure that one is drained completely before adding the other as the combination of the two can cause catastrophic damage to your vehicle’s engine and can emit very harmful toxins. Engine block sealer is designed to repair your engine’s block for a period of anywhere between a few months to more than two years, depending on a number of factors. Be certain that you have a certified mechanic check the engine as soon as possible to prevent further damage.

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