how much for new head gasket installed??

[shorepig]

Hey guys....just taking a survey...found out my head gasket is leaking..bad...how much should I expect to pay to have it repaired? As well, anything else I should have done while it is apart? Thanx

[Jerry DeMoss]

Depends first on what engine you have in your vehicle.If it is OHC then you should get the cam seals while you are at it.If it is OHV then just do the HG with the valve cover gasket.Are you doing it yourself or paying someone?

[shorepig]

My vehicle is a 92 Loyale, 5 speed. 250 000 k's on her.....rest of car is in good shape, just had all seals in the front of the motor done. It is leaking from both sides...mechanic said it is pretty rare to see that...both sides gone. I would consider doing it myself if it is rlatively simple proceedure. Otherwise what would I expect for parts and labour?

[TomRhere]

Think I would check all of the coolant hoses first, before I tore into the engine. Could be you popped a heater hose, or one of the smaller coolant lines on the intake manifold.

Start the engine and push the hoses around to see if any of them want to leak any. I can see one leaking and the coolant flowing over the engine and coming off both sides. It happened to the '84 BRAT I had, was that way when I bought it. Owner was told it was headgaskets. NOT, was leaking heater hose.

[idosubaru]

unless this guy really knows subarus, he could be confusing something else for head gasket issues. is it leaking coolant or oil? valve cover leaks will pour oil all over the bottom of the motor, covers the cam tower and the head, particularly it coagulates on the rear of the head and drips down on the motor mount...then exhaust and burns off and stinks and smokes. that being said, a valve cover or cam carrier leak can look like an expensive head gasket leak. valve covers are cheap and easy to replace and are more common problems areas than head gaskets or cam carriers.

 

verify if you are loosing oil or coolant?

overheating?

 

if you're sure it's overheating, loosing coolant and needs head gaskets then you can expect to pay 500-750 (american). depends what all is done - timing belts, water pump, heads machined, valve job, valve seals, etc.

[shorepig]

Hmmmm.....ok, you've raised some good points re. my head gasket issue. It is NOT leaking any coolant at all...checked the oil too...not milky, the oil cap doesnt have any whitish goop on the underside, so that rules out loose/damaged hoses and I would assume a cracked head. What it IS leaking is oil onto the outside of the motor. If I park it for 10 minutes and come back there is usually a few drips on the ground. And yes, my car does also smell like burning oil... Just replaced the oil pan seal...originally thought the oil was from that, But it is still wet, even further up. Cleaned the whole underside of the engine with degreaser, let the car sit, then drove it again, and my mechanic is certain it is the head gaskets. The strange thing is though, I've owned the car for the last 30 000 km's, and it has never overheated, and it has had this light oil drip for 20 000 of those km's. So whataya think?

[shorepig]

My mechanic has also confirmed that it is NOT leaky valve cover gaskets either! He quoted me $800 Canadian for parts, labour, and machining the head. He did about $600 work 5 months ago on the front of the motor (all seals, timing belt, oil pump, and I believe water pump) So he says if I get the heads redone with new seals, my engine will be solid. Hmmmm I dunno though, 250 000 km's....92 Loyale, $800 more bucks! I was just about to spend a big wad of cash on a lift, wheels and tires and bumpers.....but now I think I should sell my car. Any suggestions?

[dustyrider]

rear main seal?

[shorepig]

Apparently my rear main seal has a dampness around it, but nothing to worry about. My clutch is on its way out soon anyways, so I'll tend to that then