Gutted

[concrete]

By the way, thanks for the replies guys, I’ve read this forum for several years and find it a real mine of information.

[psl]

Having just gone through hell with a vivaro van, bought in dec 2018 and just sold this weekend for a big loss, I can feel your pain. I was offered 400 max by van breakers, with its genuine low miles (78,000) on the clock and immaculate bodywork. I kept running it with one broken injector after the other, as the cost each time was ridiculous, coupled with the fact lost work time, I was pulling my hair out. If you can fix it then sell on, or keep it and run it. That would be your best option, as the pain of giving away something you spent so much on really hurts.

[concrete]

I’m probably sounding desperate, but I’m just exploring all options. Been looking on the steel seal website and reading reviews elsewhere. Does this stuff actually work or is it just voodoo?

[Ian21401]

I don’t profess to be a mechanic, but the cause of the pressurisation needs to be identified before you can make an informed decision. Cylinder head gasket or cracked cylinder head or cracked cylinder liner/block. Is the coolant simply disappearing? Is the coolant contaminated? I believe that there is a test to ascertain that. Compression test to identify which cylinder, if any, is the culprit.
I may be completely wrong. There are more people on here with much more knowledge than me.
Perhaps this thread should be bumped to the appropriate section.

[concrete]

My mate has tested it and said possible head gasket, but not to rule out cracked cylinder head or block. At the minute it runs beautifully and just loses water now and again. I’ve done 250 mile round trips and lost nothing and then driven 40 miles and needed to top up. No white smoke, no overheating, oil is fine, I assume he did the coolant test for exhaust gases, but will check. All that is happening is the pressurisation and coolant loss.

[Black dog]

I've a 2004 s60 doing the same thing. Purchaced it from a customer 2 years ago as he did not wish to throw money at it. We run it since as a pick up car and it's still flyin!
Don't use steel seal its the most expensive hash you will ever make, you may as well take the money and go on the pi&& with it at least you will have a hangover to show for it, either way the car will be no better off.
I can drive the s60 about 40 miles before it starts to loss coolant, doesent heat either unless I put a trailer on it. I swore at the beginning it was head gasket but now I'm not so sure I'm beginning to believe it may have a restricted return hose or partially blocked rad. In 2 years it's got no worse!
In my experience sniff and dye tests have been inconclusive of testing head gaskets.

[abdiel]

Originally Posted by concrete

I’m probably sounding desperate, but I’m just exploring all options. Been looking on the steel seal website and reading reviews elsewhere. Does this stuff actually work or is it just voodoo?

Whatever you do, DO NOT USE STEEL SEAL!
The chances of it actually working are about the same as winning the Lottery and as a bonus it will clog up everything in the cooling system. Ask me how I know!

[concrete]

Originally Posted by abdiel

Whatever you do, DO NOT USE STEEL SEAL!
The chances of it actually working are about the same as winning the Lottery and as a bonus it will clog up everything in the cooling system. Ask me how I know!

Reading the reviews doesn’t fill me with confidence. Seems to have a 50% success rate, with some people having more problems because of it. Looks like my issue could stay the same for several years and not get worse. Think I’ll nurse the car along for now and top up the coolant as required. I’m old enough to have owned cars where topping up the water and oil was pretty much a weekly
thing anyway.

We’re spoilt nowadays.

[Black dog]

Because the one I have doesent cover miles I didn't investigate, but if I'm ever quiet at work I will. Money still on rad or blocked return.

[concrete]

Originally Posted by Black dog

Because the one I have doesent cover miles I didn't investigate, but if I'm ever quiet at work I will. Money still on rad or blocked return.

Your post has helped convince me to keep the car and just carry a gallon of coolant water in the boot. It only needs to do three years and it could well do that. It absolutely purrs and is so comfortable.

On the steel seal front, I’ve been chatting to a couple of mechanics I know and one of them has used it on a six pot discovery which was losing a bottle of water a week-it lasted two and a half years and the owner only sold it on because the gearbox started playing up. The other has a mate who is about to use some on a Toyota, don’t which model. I’ll be watching with interest, but don’t intend using it myself, especially as I don’t want to possibly make matters worse than they already are.

Thanks again for all the replies, hopefully I’ll still be chugging around in it, this time next year.