Blown head gasket - Anyone have experience with Steel Seal?

Just bought my 1986 B2000 and discovered it has a small head gasket leak. Trying to hold off on replacing the head gasket for awhile. Has anyone had success with Steel Seal or any other additive to stop a head gasket leak?

I don't want to cause harm to my new radiator or any other components in the water system.

I don't ever recommend band-aids to fix stuff.

As a former cooling system specialist I also do not suggest using anything. However if you have to get by for a while you need to avoid things that will stop up the system. The ONLY brand I have ever seen work and not stop up a cooling system is Bars Leaks, Now days they have several different ones. The older one that was brown pellets suspended in a liquid was the best because it did not stop up the radiator and it did stop a leak.

I suggest this one..



But The other head gasket versions of bars leaks work well also. I do not trust any other brand.

But I do know that many of the ones that contain copper will also work.

Thanks VSAWMike! I am going with Bar's product. Maybe I can get a few more miles on my truck and do the head gasket later. It is a small leak... which should help the Bar's product do it's thing. I will let you know how it goes.

Maybe you can retorque the head and that would take care of your problem.

I researched the different brands and decided to go with Bar's as suggested by fellow member VSAWMike. I followed the instructions. Results? Nothing short of amazing!

I drove today over 100 miles non stop in stop and go traffic here in Phoenix. By the way... the temperature today was over 107 today... and I had my A/C going the whole trip.

Results... my coolant level remained full the whole time. I will keep you posted.

That's great Gunder, a nice test will be the 114F expected later in the week here.

I also want to throw in: Mrs. Cusser had a 1988 Suburban from 1994 to 2000, and that also drank coolant (although slower than your issue) and she drove it at about 4 years like that. Then one of the head gaskets just really blew out; she had no idea that there was any issue at all, I just checked the coolant level regularly, so I knew it had a small head gasket issue. I never did try any sealant like that, we took that vehicle on vacations, she towed horses, never overheated it, drove it like 4 years until things finally went way south.

Gunder - did you do a new fan clutch when you did that new radiator? That really can affect temperatures in city traffic. And I hope you bought one of the 2-row radiators like I use on my B2200 in our Phoenix weather.

The fan seems to be operating fine. The radiator and any other work was done by the previous owner. Thanks for responding! i will keep you posted.

be prepared also to possibly resurface your heads when you do your head gaskets any good machine shop should be able to do so for under 200$ easily.

Well... as most everyone knew... A band-aid is exactly that. My truck is on the tow truck heading for a shop to get a new head gasket. Arizona 110+ temp will let you know who's boss around here.

No worries... i want the truck fixed right and while we have the head off... we can check everything else. More later...