head gasket

1. tomnelson Frequent Poster Joined: Dec 2010 coalville Posts: 711 project flat arch

   #1 15th January 2011, 22:02

   how much roughly for a new head gasket ?
   how long will it take to change it ?
2. user_36198 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2009 ilkeston derbyshire Posts: 9823 C2 VTR stripped, 406hdi, clio 172

   #2 15th January 2011, 22:04

   3 hours unless head needs skimming, you also need new bolts,cam belt,oil and filter,anti freeze if you're doing the job
3. tomnelson Frequent Poster Joined: Dec 2010 coalville Posts: 711 project flat arch

   #3 15th January 2011, 22:10

   literally had a new cambelt 2 weeks ago, and i believe in a head gasket kit you get new bolts. 3 hours is all it takes ? must be very easy then. how will i know if the head needs skimming ?
4. user_36198 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2009 ilkeston derbyshire Posts: 9823 C2 VTR stripped, 406hdi, clio 172

   #4 15th January 2011, 22:13

   3 hours is about right but we do them quite regularly. You'll only know if it needs skimming by checking it with a straight edge for distortion when its off but if its been overheated chances are it'll need doing
5. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

   #5 15th January 2011, 22:14

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by tomnelson literally had a new cambelt 2 weeks ago, and i believe in a head gasket kit you get new bolts. 3 hours is all it takes ? must be very easy then. how will i know if the head needs skimming ?

   You always skim a head when changing the head gasket to make sure you get good compression when you re-fit it.
   
   
   Steve.
6. tomnelson Frequent Poster Joined: Dec 2010 coalville Posts: 711 project flat arch

   #6 15th January 2011, 22:26

   well i will check it with a straight edge. hopefully get it done next weekend its there a how to guide just incase i get stuck ?
7. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

   #7 15th January 2011, 22:29

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by tomnelson well i will check it with a straight edge. hopefully get it done next weekend its there a how to guide just incase i get stuck ?

   Mate if your doing yourself then buy a Haynes manual its all in there.
   
   
   
   Steve.
8. user_36198 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2009 ilkeston derbyshire Posts: 9823 C2 VTR stripped, 406hdi, clio 172

   #8 15th January 2011, 22:30

   +1, its all accesible nuts and bolts,nothing fancy or complicated at all.
9. tomnelson Frequent Poster Joined: Dec 2010 coalville Posts: 711 project flat arch

   #9 15th January 2011, 22:32

   ii will be doing it myself well i will see how it goes shouldnt be that hard. would it really make a difference if i didnt get the head skimmed ? but it wasnt warped
10. user_36198 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2009 ilkeston derbyshire Posts: 9823 C2 VTR stripped, 406hdi, clio 172

    #10 15th January 2011, 22:44

    its best practice to get it skimmed as a precaution, why are you changing it? over heating,oil/water mixing,water loss,oil loss?
11. tomnelson Frequent Poster Joined: Dec 2010 coalville Posts: 711 project flat arch

    #11 15th January 2011, 22:49

    found oild leaking from the head gasket but its never over heated in the time ive had it and theres no contamination in the coolant or oil. its lost a lil bit of oil maybe and 3mm on the dipstick
12. user_36198 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2009 ilkeston derbyshire Posts: 9823 C2 VTR stripped, 406hdi, clio 172

    #12 15th January 2011, 22:51

    if its just to cure an oil leak then theres every chance the head will be ok but for the sake of a few quid its best getting a light skim done
13. jazz-man02 Infrequent Poster Joined: Feb 2010 Tamworth Posts: 181 2000 Citroen saxo VTR

    #13 15th January 2011, 23:50

    the gaskets are cheap pal, they will just sting you with labor costs
14. user_36198 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2009 ilkeston derbyshire Posts: 9823 C2 VTR stripped, 406hdi, clio 172

    #14 15th January 2011, 23:51

    he said he's doing it himself lol, bolts and a decent head gasket is around 40 pounds
15. Railroader Established Member Joined: Dec 2009 Bolton Posts: 1068 Saxo 1.4i sx

    #15 16th January 2011, 00:00

    Just do it yoursen. The engineer will supply the gasket and bolts as cheap as anyone and they will know the corrrect gasket thickness too. Fit new cambelt while your at it.
    
    If its the first time be careful with the cam timing, turn the engine over with a spanner on the crank nut [not on the cambelt sprocket because that stresses the belt] to make sure nothings hitting before starting. When torquing the head bolts it might be frightening you think they will snap. Remember to reset the tappets before starting. Then recheck belt tension after starting up [ just leave top engine mount undone in case you have to retension the belt] Correct tension is you can lightly turn the belt thru 90 deg [without forcing] in the middle when cold. If you can hear it whining its too tight, etc etc if it runs like a bag 'o' shit afterwards in might be a tooth out in the timing/ etc etc etc etc
16. tomnelson Frequent Poster Joined: Dec 2010 coalville Posts: 711 project flat arch

    #16 16th January 2011, 12:19

    just been and priced it all up excluding head skim it comes to £81.27 bargin and thats including spark plugs so i can do a full service while im at it ye i literally did the new cambelt a few weeks ago there soo easy to change it was unreal
17. tomnelson Frequent Poster Joined: Dec 2010 coalville Posts: 711 project flat arch

    #17 16th January 2011, 12:21

    + i think i might give the ports a clean up see if theres any silly air flow restrictions
18. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

    #18 16th January 2011, 13:06

    Good luck with it just make sure you bleed the cooling system properly & double check everything.
    
    Steve.