Fix a Main Gasket With Liquid Glass
This is supposed to be a temporary fix but I know someone who followed this five years ago and his car still doesn’t leak water.
Steps
- Purchase Sodium Silicate (Liquid Glass) from a pharmacy. Purchase new thermostat and associated thermostat gasket(s).
- Drain coolant system by disconnecting the large hose from the bottom of the radiator. Also disconnect the large hose from the top of the radiator.
- Remove the thermostat and reconnect the hose without a thermostat.
- Flush the coolant system thoroughly with hose water to remove trace amounts of antifreeze. Run water through the large hose which was disconnected from the top of the radiator and leads to the engine. Watch the water coming out of the large hose which was disconnected from the bottom of the radiator until it turns clear. Do the same to the radiator by running water through the top and watching it pour out the bottom.
- Reconnect all the coolant system hoses and the old thermostat gasket without the thermostat.
- In a container, pour about a quart of water. Add the liquid glass and mix thoroughly.
- Add the liquid glass/water mixture to the radiator. Top off the coolant system with hose water. Cap the radiator.
- Start the car and then remove the radiator cap. Wait until the water level drops in the radiator and top it off again with hose water.
- Run for 45 minutes. When liquid glass heats up it is activated. When it cools down by contacting air it will harden as when it seeps out of the leaky gasket.
- After 45 minutes, stop the engine. Wait about 15 minutes and drain the coolant system without burning yourself.
- Flush the coolant system with hose water thoroughly (see step 4). Install the new thermostat with gasket. Ensure the coolant system is put together properly.
- Fill the radiator with 50:50 water:antifreeze.
