# Followup on Silverado 5.3 engine leaking head gasket - cheap fix

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/followup-on-silverado-5-3-engine-leaking-head-gasket-cheap-fix/78453>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** chevrolet, 1500\
**Created:** [April 4, 2013, 2:52am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/followup-on-silverado-5-3-engine-leaking-head-gasket-cheap-fix/78453 "2013-04-04T02:52:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![psanzone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac8455/32.png) [@psanzone](https://community.cartalk.com/u/psanzone)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 2:52am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/followup-on-silverado-5-3-engine-leaking-head-gasket-cheap-fix/78453/1 "2013-04-04T02:52:49Z")

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Wanted to give a followup on a leaking head gasket on a 2001 Silverado with 5.3 engine. It kept using more and more coolant until I was putting in over a quart every tank of gas. With over 200,000 miles on the truck, I really thougth it was worth the try of one of the magic elixors Tom and Ray talk about. Tried Barrs Leaks for head gaskets - cost about $35.00 - it looks like there are all slivers of bright copper in the solution.

Put it in about a year ago and it really did help. It still uses a little coolant, but more like a pint every 2,000 or 3,000 miles now. I can live with that as the truck is nearing rust bucket status.

Thought people needed a good outcome for a change.

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**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 3:33am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/followup-on-silverado-5-3-engine-leaking-head-gasket-cheap-fix/78453/2 "2013-04-04T03:33:54Z")

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More than likely the Barrs -Leak contained sodium silicate. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium\_silicate#Automotive\_repair](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_silicate#Automotive_repair)

You can order this from a pharmacy for about $20.00 and it’ll do the same thing.

Tester

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**Author:** ![Triedaq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Triedaq](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Triedaq)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 4:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/followup-on-silverado-5-3-engine-leaking-head-gasket-cheap-fix/78453/3 "2013-04-04T04:08:18Z")

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If the OP overspent on the treatment by $15 and got another year’s use out of the truck, I guess he has lost $1.25 a month. On the other hand, I wish that the auto parts store had a cheaper substitute for Geritol. Mrs. Triedaq thinks that Geritol is overpriced and makes me fitness walk 3 miles a day five days a week.