2003

[beaujotoyo]

Hello

This is about an older rav, 2003 Rav, sport edition, 4wd, manual. Driven cross country a few times. Into places no other car owned has gone, and with a mini camper.

Bought in 2019 from original owner.

I travel in Rav sometimes, like a van dweller, sometimes with the little camper and sometimes not. Camper is home and in a fixed spot.

The heat wave killed it. In August we were in nortern OR heading east to run an errand. The temperature gauge went up to H for the first time. Limped to auto parts store and no coolant. It was always filled at oil changes and never noticed a problem. Filled it up and it fixed issue. But eventually leaked and needed refilling. This is in severe heat, severe weather. Bought the red coolant, new radiator cap. Had a mobile mechanic come look at it. He found small leak of coolant and I got under car to see. Not sure I saw but he pointed a spot out. He recommended K Seal. 

(Bad dreading music)

I read the reviews, which range from it will kill your car to it saved my car. The mechanic recommended it. I took a breathe and put it in.

It would have been better to keep refilling the coolant when low.

First of two devastating even. A few days after this I left to go to camper and was in a hit and run on the highway. I am very grateful to not have been more injured. A candle cone hit by oncoming traffic went through windshield. This led to almost a two month stranding waiting for insurance. And the car sitting at Copart for a long time.

Picked car up at the body shop Tuesday this week. Car ran fine, same as before it appeared. The body shop said they looked under hood, and saw the brake fluid cap was off for some reason and put back on. Now am wondering if they did anything.

Was happy to finally leave this town we never would come to, which is the most dangerous in the state. Have spent all savings on hotel and other expenses. Slept in rental car the majority of the time.

Left the body shop and drove to do some errands. No issues, though power seems less. At one point the heat stopped working. Just blowing cold air. Have had that happen in older cars and added that to ' to do' list.

Finished the errand and got on the highway.  After a few miles, hearing a knocking noise. Sounds a little like an old mercedes diesel. Then losing power. Pulled over. Smoke from under hood. Temp gauge normal. Then it died. Tow truck driver and I inspected the engine. Oil low and dark. Coolant on ground near engine.

Towed to mechanic. Mechanic thought it was a timing chain. Took it apart and they said there is no compression in the cylinders, all four. I looked at the engine. Timing chain is still in place. Oil in engine, dirty.

It sat at Copart and leaked out all it's oil slowly over the month it was there. And the coolant that was in it too perhaps but the K seal may have sealed that. (I was injured in accident and with concussion didn't think to refill these things before driving.)

Did the K Seal clog something?

This vehicle only has 209k miles and has been maintained with oil changes, new clutch, spark plugs, coils and more.

A new or used car is not an option. I am not like you. I am handicapped, no relatives, cannot work due to medical, and barely have enough to eat.  If you have never experienced this you could not imagine it. There is no bank loan, or way to get another vehicle. This is in the us btw.  

[Dippy]

Total guess.

The K Seal might have sealed an important sensor. I didn’t think that was recommended on newer cars. 
Sounds like the car initially developed a coolant leak exacerbated by your heatwave. Heat usually comes from engine coolant running through the matrix. Your heat failing could be lack of coolant (or the matrix being blocked by K seal. 
Low power then no compression; warped head? Really no idea, just throwing ideas out. Internet diagnosis can be rubbish. 
Good luck.