By far the number one question we get on our tech lines and Facebook is:
“How can I tell if your head gasket products will fix my head gasket leak? I’ve heard some of these products don’t work.”
First off, if you haven’t read our Buyer’s Guide on choosing the right head gasket repair solution, you might find that helpful when it comes to deciding which of our products is best suited for you, your technical expertise level and your particular problem.
There is one ultimate truth, no matter what any chemical tool vendor tells you: if your head gasket leak is too serious, no chemical tool will seal the leak. None. Zip. Zero. We’d love to tell you otherwise, but we’d be lying. If your leak is severe, then you’re looking at a physical repair. That’s the reality. It’s a bummer, we know.
But there are many shades of gray between a perfectly healthy head gasket and one that needs a physical repair, and that’s where we come in.
So, here’s how to tell if your head gasket leak is a candidate for one of our head gasket repair solutions:
Can your car run or be driven for 15 minutes without overheating?
First, the bad news: if your vehicle cannot run for 15 mintues without overheating, your leak is probably too severe to be chemically sealed. In cases like this, there is less than a 50% chance we can help.
But if your vehicle can run for 15 minutes without overheating, then our strongest product, Bar’s Leaks Professional Head Seal Blown Head Gasket Repair (p/n HG-1) will likely work. HG-1 is our most expensive product, one that’s truly pro-grade, but it’s also our strongest formula, designed for the toughest leaks. It’s also very convenient and easy to install, with no draining or flushing necessary unless the cooling system is dirty or partially clogged or if you need to drain some coolant out to get the proper dosage in.
But wait. Before you decide on our HG-1 product, there is another question:
Can your car run or be driven for 20 minutes without overheating?
If so, then you are likely a candidate for our Bar’s Leaks Head Gasket Fix (p/n 1111), one of our most wildly popular products. Why is it popular? It has a medium price point and is very easy to install because it’s antifreeze-compatible. Its sealing strength is a bit below our HG-1 product, but the installation is quick and easy. For most mild to moderate HG leaks, this product has worked wonders for tens of thousands of customers.
If you want a cheaper, but also strong product whose installation is a bit more involved, our Bar’s Leaks Head Gasket Repair (p/n 1100) is a great option. It offers a very strong seal, (though not as strong as our HG-1) lower price, but installation is more demanding because the formula is not compatible with antifreeze.
So, in a nutshell, this is how you can tell if one of our products will be able to help with with your head gasket leak:
- If your vehicle can run for 15 minutes without overheating and you need our most professional-grade solution, consider our HG-1 product.
- If your vehicle can run for 20 minutes without overheating, consider our 1111 product or 1100 product, depending on how easy you want the installation to be.
- Bottom line that most chemical seal vendors won’t tell you: If your vehicle overheats within 15 minutes, chances are you need a physical repair by a licensed facility/mechanic. We’d love to be able to sell you a product, but if your car is overheating rapidly, no chemical fix will work. It’s not just ours that probably won’t work, but any. Save your money for a mechanic’s attention.
If you want to chat about this further, contact us at 800-345-6572 x204 (ask for Fred) or drop us an email at ‘support @barsleaks.com’. Or, you could always hit us up on Facebook. We do our best to respond as quickly as possible.
