[lowesguy]

Automotive repair

Sodium silicate can be used to seal leaks at the head gasket. A common use is when an aluminum alloy cylinder head engine is left sitting for extended periods or the coolant is not changed at proper intervals, electrolysis can "eat out" sections of the head causing the gasket to fail.

Rather than remove the cylinder head, "liquid glass" is poured into the radiator and allowed to circulate. The waterglass is injected via the radiator water into the hotspot at the engine. This technique works because at 100-105 °C the sodium silicate loses water molecules to form a very powerful sealant that will not re-melt below 810 °C.

A sodium silicate repair of a leaking head gasket can hold for up to two years and even longer in some cases. The effect will be almost instant, and steam from the radiator water will stop coming out the exhaust within minutes of application. This repair only works with water-to-cylinder or water-to-air applications and where the sodium silicate reaches the "conversion" temperature of 100-105 °C.

 

[winmutt]

Interesting.

 

[macdrone]

Thats a neat idea, but if the head is leaking can/will it enter the other chamber/valley and clog something vital up? Maybe drop a chunk of material that hardens inside a combustion chamber? If you have a radiator leak/cooling leak will you have it fixing those points also?

 

[Komrade 124]

at first i was skeptical but huh...seems pretty legit!
here's a specific brand that sells it at $60 a quart

Obviously it's not a replacement for a full head gasket repair and service but for the price, damn.. wonder how well/how long it would work in an M103

 

[magicbigdaddy]

I bought some at a local drug store a few years ago and it cost about $6 for a quart. I was told by a reptuable indie to use it when I had a leak in my MB radiator. It worked perfectly. I put about 2 oz. into the radiator and the leak went away. I believe many brands by experienced marketing companies sell the same stuff for $60+. Great way to re-label a common product and make big bucks. It worked for me. Head gasket? I don't know, but I would give it a shot. Especially if your trying to get another year or two out of a car. I had my car another 3 years and the radiator leak never was an issue. My 2 cents.

 

[lowesguy]

I hate putting anything in my motor .but hey it sure would be a quick fix for something your trying to get rid of or emergency situation or can't afford a hg job