Hi i have a Ford Focus MK1

I used k-seal in my coolant tank and I used too much. I followed the instructions but used the entire bottle instead of using half. Before I was losing a bit of coolant everyday and now that's stopped.

Now my car over heats when using it above 1000rpm. 

It can idle fine at 800rpm and the temperature 🌡️ doesn't go above half.

Now it overheats and creeps up into the red when used after a few minutes of driving.

I have flushed the cooling system so many times I've lost count. I've used liqui moly cooling system cleaner and Holt's radiator cleaner to no avail.

I've drained the entire system so many times, unscrewed the coolant cap and the radiator drain plug.

I've refilled with fresh red antifreeze at the correct ratio. I've bled the air out of the system.

No matter how many times I flush there's always remnants of k-seal floating around in my cars coolant tank and coolant tubes...

 

I'm not sure do I replace the radiator, do I replace the thermostat, the heater matrix or the tubes or everything or just scrap the car... I'm so angry with myself.. What should I do apart from being banned from working on my own car..

This is odd. I can only put about 3 liters of coolant in my car after draining it fully it holds up to 6 liters ... So there's a blockage but where .

Not necessarily blocked.  Could just be an air bubble.

The problem with K-Seal is that it reacts with air.  So if the cooling system wasn't fully bled before the K-Seal cured, it'll permanently block water ways.  Generally high up in the radiator, heater matrix or worst case, cylinder head.

It's unlikely to block the large hoses.  And water doesn't 'need' to flow through the heater matrix to keep the engine cool.  So chances are it's a blockage in the rad or the head.  If it is a blockage, rather than an airlock.

If you were me what would you do? I've got the car booked in a garage Monday but I'd really like to see if I can fix this myself 

 

Thank you for your reply

2 minutes ago, Lloydronnaker said:

If you were me what would you do? 

Probably scrap it and buy something even worse in a panic. 

 

You could run it up with the cap off and the heaters on, squeezing pipes and opening bleed nipples to see if you can find any trapped air.  Will need to run it up to at least 90c to get the stat to open for coolant to circulate through the radiator.

All done at your own risk though.  If part of the head is being missed, there's a high risk of hotspots blowing the headgasket.