Head Gasket

[lampardluver]

I have just been quoted near �400 for a new head gasket.
That includes �160 for parts + 250 for labour - I believe that's 4/5 hours? Anyway I just want to know if anyone can confirm if they know if this is reasonable price. Just to point out this quote is before they have checked the full extent of the damage. It hadn' t blown - the oil and the water have mixed.

[xud]

Seems a bit excessive to charge �160 for parts if all that is required is a head gasket kit. Although you didn't mention what car it is.

[lampardluver]

its a vauxhall corsa 1.2, p reg. believe its the whole head gasket that is to be replaced including timing belts, flushing of the system etc.

[Loosehead]

So they are doing the cambelts at the same time I guess that's reasonable, so the parts inculed a HG kit and the Cambelts. 4-5 hours seem excessive for a corsa though, simple engine simple access, more like 2-3 I would say.

[lampardluver]

I was quoted �550 from a garage. The price was by a mechanic who has been reccommended to me.
And how long does the new head gasket last for?

[Loosehead]

A head gasket should generally last for the life of the engine in normal usage, so one has to ask what caused it to fail. The most common cause is a warped head caused by overheating, this will mean the Gasket's effectiveness can errode over time. Has the car ever over heated? So "How long will a new one last " really depends on why the old one failed.

[lampardluver]

you know the fan that kicks in when the temperature gets too high - that doesnt work. I have to turn high heat on for it to go down. but that has only happened once while in bad traffic. But my boyf car does that and he hasn't had this problem.
I am so sure that I had a cam belt change last year - ill have to check - but would the garage have noticed the head gasket then?

[Toureman]

So, The car makers put fans in to keep the engine cool in certain circumstances but you and your boy friend know better than them and decide you do not need them.

Your decision cost you more cash and likely it will your boyfriend aswell.

[Loosehead]

Ok Rewind... For what initial reason did you take the car in?
What was the symptom, what problem did you have? The garage say you need a HG but I' trying to establish what you initial problem was.

They are suggesting doing the campbelts because while they are stripping down the engine they may as well, they are not saying your belts are knackered and you could say you don't want them done if you only had them done recently. It is common practice to offer to change consumables when they are working on the area anyway.

[lampardluver]

My car was shaky whilst at higher speed and the temperature was rising. Got home checked the oil and it had the gooey stuff inside the oil cap. Was told by relative not to drive the car. the mechanic came out this morning checked it and said the water and oil had mixed which caused the goo. The head gasket needs replacing. as he explained what he would do he said he would have to skim the top, change the timing belt and flush the system. i know nothing about cars so im just saying what i remember him saying.

[Loosehead]

Now we are getting somewhere.
The goo = dead gasket, they are correct. Gasket dead because the abnormal temperature caused a warped head. I f you don't skim the head to straighten it again then you'll have the same problem again within weeks.

So to replace gasket + skim head + flush + Replace cam belts, 4-5 hours sounds about right. Your main decision is whether to change the cambelts or not. If you choose not the labour will be tha same so you'll just save the cost of the belts.

[Loosehead]

and what's so great about Lampard?!

[lampardluver]

he is an absolute god!!
Thanks for your help on this. I just wanted to make sure I wasnt getting ripped off. Will every mechainic skim the top? Surely if they dont its a dud job?
So how much is the actual gasket? Would you say anything over 400 is madness!! The cars only worth 800 or could it go higher than that.

[Loosehead]

I don't know prices off the top of my head but the gaskett kit won't be that much. Yes usually the head should be skimmed because it will be warped.

The real issue here is, is it worth doing? Probably not if the cars a banger but ask yourself what do you do if you don't get it fixed? you can't get much for �400. Garage bills do have a tendency to be higher than the estimates so prepare for a �500 bill. If you where going to get another car anyway then scrap this one.

[lampardluver]

I am not in a financial position to buy a new car. Ive only had this one just over a year. I dont think I have any choice but to do it.

[rdv]

pity you didnt change the fan temp switch they only cost about �10. as mentioned that is the likely cause.

[dinnerlady39]

My son's quicksilver 106 had a head gasget a couple of weeks ago and total cost including labour was �202.

[mikey7891]

My head blew last year, booked car in for repair total inluding MOT, cambelt,new head, spark plugs was �500
which i though was quite reasonable

[Whickerman]

it can be the death knell for a car, but if your fan isn't working it could be that the car was overheating when you bought it, and the head gasket on its way out, and the vendor disconnected the fan to hide this. (Quite a common con).

[lampardluver]

When he does the head gasket will the fan thing be done too? So.. I will have the work done.
For aftercare what do I need to ensure I do?