Blown head gasket

[hot rod]

My granson 1989 ford ranger 4 cyl blew a head gasket, friend told me try head gasket sealer, there's blue devil an other sealers, thought it would be worth a try if anything else, just to get it home, need help, opinions please thanks

[Delta Bass Fool]

That stuff can work on small leaks but it’s always best to pull the head, check for flatness of the cylinder deck and cylinder head then replace with a new gasket. 4 cylinders are pretty easy to do. You won’t even have to pull the intake/exhaust manifolds if you are strong enough or have a cherry picker. I always stay away from stop leak products as they have the potential to clog the radiator/heater core and creat further problems like overheating and blowing the head gasket warping a head etc :/

If you have a U-Haul locally you could rent a truck and trailer for the day for probably less than $100 depending on the mileage between traveling distances. If you have a truck you can rent just the trailer to haul the truck for less than $30 for 24 hours.

[tcesni]

If that is the 2.3 L motor pulling the head is “easy” as these things go.

[Champ 2001]

That stuff can work on small leaks but it’s always best to pull the head, check for flatness of the cylinder deck and cylinder head then replace with a new gasket. 4 cylinders are pretty easy to do. You won’t even have to pull the intake/exhaust manifolds if you are strong enough or have a cherry picker. I always stay away from stop leak products as they have the potential to clog the radiator/heater core and creat further problems like overheating and blowing the head gasket warping a head etc :/

If you have a U-Haul locally you could rent a truck and trailer for the day for probably less than $100 depending on the mileage between traveling distances. If you have a truck you can rent just the trailer to haul the truck for less than $30 for 24 hours.

[ProVle]

How do you know it's a head gasket without inspecting? You could try some sealer product to limp it home, but like said they can cause other problems.

[hot rod]

How do you know it's a head gasket without inspecting? You could try some sealer product to limp it home, but like said they can cause other problems.

white smoke coming out of tail pipe

[ProVle]

white smoke coming out of tail pipe

Head gasket, cracked head or block, intake manifold leak on some engines etc.

[basscat21]

All the head gasket sealers do is mess the cooling system up, for when you do the head gasket repair. The 4 cylinder will be easy to fix. No need to put magic potion in. I own the same truck! Best vehicle I ever owned.

[06 SB]

Do what basscat21 recommends!

[mactlman]

one of the simplest engine made still easy to work on also! that being said, i have seen this stuff work miracles also and might be worth a try to buy some time? https://www.amazon.com/K-Seal-ST5501...c-6ce62808241a

[tcesni]

I once replaced the #1 piston on one of these engines by pulling the head and dropping the oil pan. All in a parking lot! And I am not a mechanic by any definition.

[gaston13]

A quick fix that may work but can also gum up the cooling system. Best to take the time to do it right and resurface the head and do a valve job while it's removed. good luck

[basscat21]

A quick fix that may work but can also gum up the cooling system. Best to take the time to do it right and resurface the head and do a valve job while it's removed. good luck

Yes Sir! The correct way!

[ssmithboats]

very few times in the history of the world when something is wrong with a motor you can pour some mixture out of a can or bottle to fix it.

[ProVle]

very few times in the history of the world when something is wrong with a motor you can pour some mixture out of a can or bottle to fix it.

This is very true, and yet Ford,Mopar,and Gm all had some formula of there own installed at the factory. It was used at the dealer with a flush and refill. GM had a type of "tablet" that dissolved in the system, Mopar had a tube of powder etc. There have been many a farm tractor kept running with Bars leak in the system. Prestone had it in there premium antifreeze at one time.

[mactlman]

gm has used cooling system stop leak tablets for 20-30 yrs now--comes in the car new from factory aluminum blocks

[rboren]

Not a reliable fix.

[ProVle]

I know that there were lot's of cars in the 60's and 70's from H.S. with black pepper in the radiator, the problem with all of these was if a little is good then a whole lot is better when problems started.