head gasket & block repair @rxauto.com

[BACK2LIFE]

this is an item being advertised around my way and i also seen it advertised on this forum for repairing leaking head gaskets and cracked blocks with a 100% moneyback guarantee. anyone used it or know some background on it. i know it a miracle product but they offer the money back if it does not stop the leak!

[bld]

I wouldn't waste the time or hassle on it. And remember, anything that will plug a leak (e.g., a small passageway) will probably also plug the small passageways in the radiator.

[JimW]

Do a search in our forums about AutoRX, its been discussed with much success here.

[TJM]

better to possibly replace a radiator/heater core than to replace a head gasket

[Marc]

After having looked at www.rxauto.com I don't understand how 2 liquids could combine into a solid capable of standing up to compression & combustion forces.

[scottydl]

jimw said:

Do a search in our forums about AutoRX, its been discussed with much success here.

Uh, it appears that Auto-Rx (an engine cleaner many of us have used) and RxAuto (the sealant product being asked about here) are two completely different products.

For radiator sealants in general, I've always heard that it's only a temporary fix... if the radiator is leaking, it will either need to be professionally repaired or replaced.

[bld]

tjm said:

better to possibly replace a radiator/heater core than to replace a head gasket

Not better to have to replace radiator/heater core and the head gasket.

[95rora]

marc said:

After having looked at www.rxauto.com I don't understand how 2 liquids could combine into a solid capable of standing up to compression & combustion forces.

Chances are the liquids are polymers that form a coating over the holes or leaks in the cooling system. One is the reacting agent and the other is the hardener. Polymers can make some very very strong solids if the right ones are used.

[bld]

And if the conditions are right for the reaction (e.g., temperature, pressure) they will react regardless of location. So they might well "cure up" somewhere where you don't want them to.

[TJM]

If confronted with the dreaded head gasket issue that would usually surface due to a neglected or unexpected component failure of the cooling system and given the choices for resolution -

let's see, I have 200k on this thing:
* scrap the car - nope that's a waste; should be able to get something for it
* sell for parts - possibility but also a waste given the condition of the remainder of the car and the obvious sentimental value
* replace head gasket - hmm, pull the engine (with over 200k) do the timeserts thing, reinstall - that's do-able but lotsa labor for so many miles on the engine.
* replace engine (with 4.6?) ; with over 200k may as well think about replacing the tranny too. - too much $$$
* maybe I will just take a chance with the RXauto crap and cross my fingers it doesn't trash my radiator/heater core; 'could get another 50k out of this baby. - yup that's the ticket, and a chance I would be willing to take.

short money for the possibility of grand returns. a radiator is less than $500 and a day job - heck, i may need a new radiator anyway with 100k on the old one. and if the stuff doesn't work it was worth a shot.

[bld]

Not everybody has 200k on their cars.

And if a car has been well taken care of (which would likely be the case for a car that has reached 200K), the basic engine might well still be in good shape.

It is a calculated risk. Based on leak fix miracle cures I have seen in the past, I (that is me, not you) put the odds of a successful fix at slim to none (and Slim left for Amarillo yesterday).

So in my own estimation, I'm just wasting the cost of the miracle cure (small amount, granted) while running a significant risk of ruining other components that have significant cost (radiator replacement - much less heater core replacement - is expensive to me, but perhaps to others it's pocket change).

Different strokes for different folks.

[TJM]

point well taken - everyone's circumstances are different and more damage could possibly be done.

however, my point is that if removal of the engine is required to do a head gasket repair then it just makes sense to do it once and right the first time - hense replace the 200k engine and tranny (a serious considderation of mine if the need arises).

If the attempted miracle cure fails then an adding 10% to a final resolution of engine, tranny, radiator replacement seems within reason for the misguided hope of saving at least $5000.