Head gasket help??

1. Moy Newbie Joined: Jul 2015 Posts: 3

   #1 27th October 2015, 03:18

   Hi
   I have a Y reg 1.1, changed the rocker cover gasket after discovering a leak.
   Found a fair bit of oil in the header tank so drained and cleaned that out.
   Tried using some gasket seal stuff I picked up from eBay, on my way to work this morning it decided to overheat on me.
   after limping back home I'm left stumped, anyone got any ideas?
   Don't really want to spend a fortune on this car if I can help it.
   All help much appreciated.
2. user_98505 Regular Poster Joined: Sep 2015 Posts: 269 106 Rallye

   #2 27th October 2015, 07:38

   Headgasket is about £40, you'll need an exhaust gasket and inlet gasket and then a set of headstuds. They use stretch bolts so it's recommended to change them when you're doing a gasket.
   
   You could get a cheap gasket set off eBay (Clicky£35 Inc. headstuds) and get a local garage to fit it, I'd also recommend doing your timing belt Clickywhilst the head's off. That's another £40.
   
   My local garage fitted the lot for me a couple of years back for £80.
3. user_98505 Regular Poster Joined: Sep 2015 Posts: 269 106 Rallye

   #3 27th October 2015, 07:41

   GMC's Gasket and Bolts page
4. chinkostu Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2008 The wrong carpark Posts: 5152 Xantia 1.9TD

   #4 27th October 2015, 08:48

   Did you bleed the system after refilling?
5. Moy Newbie Joined: Jul 2015 Posts: 3

   #5 27th October 2015, 13:31

   Bled the system, followed the instructions to the letter.
   Forgot to mention that the engine decided to drink the coolant when I checked it earlier.
   Rang around a few garages for some quotes, getting back prices of around £400 even though I'm supplying the parts.
   Anyone in the Maidstone area fancy earning a few quid to give me a hand?
6. konark L-plater Joined: Jun 2011 yorkshire Posts: 69 2002 Desire 1.1 Posi Blue

   #6 27th October 2015, 19:28

   Call me a bodger but I always re-use the same head bolts, I read somewhere they can be re-tightened once, and on a 1.1 I'd chance it. You won't need an inlet manifold gasket as it can be removed with the head.
   
   The exhaust gaskets are steel and can be re-used, well worth changing the cambelt though if you don't know when it was last changed. You'll need an angle guage though as the headbolts are tightened to angle rather than torque. Also an E14 star-socket to fit them. Get a Haynes manual and follow their guidance, it's not a difficult job.
   
   £400 is taking the piss, even if they supply parts.
7. ertypedan Newbie Joined: Aug 2015 Posts: 9

   #7 11th November 2015, 10:54

   Thermostat fully functional?
8. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

   #8 11th November 2015, 20:21

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by konark Call me a bodger but I always re-use the same head bolts, I read somewhere they can be re-tightened once, and on a 1.1 I'd chance it. You won't need an inlet manifold gasket as it can be removed with the head. The exhaust gaskets are steel and can be re-used, well worth changing the cambelt though if you don't know when it was last changed. You'll need an angle guage though as the headbolts are tightened to angle rather than torque. Also an E14 star-socket to fit them. Get a Haynes manual and follow their guidance, it's not a difficult job. £400 is taking the piss, even if they supply parts.

   The head bolts are stretch bolts and need to be changed,anyway they're part of the hg kit.factor in the cost of a timing belt kit as well,£400 is a fair price.
9. konark L-plater Joined: Jun 2011 yorkshire Posts: 69 2002 Desire 1.1 Posi Blue

   #9 12th November 2015, 01:08

   £400 is probably more than the car's worth, if you can't do it yourself scrap it and buy another!
10. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

    #10 12th November 2015, 10:33

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by konark £400 is probably more than the car's worth, if you can't do it yourself scrap it and buy another!

    Maybe so but there is a right and a wrong way to do things.
11. user_98505 Regular Poster Joined: Sep 2015 Posts: 269 106 Rallye

    #11 12th November 2015, 12:18

    I'd definitely give it a go yourself. This day and age there are more than enough guides/videos online to walk you through every process.
    
    Spending £400 on a 1.1 is crazy imo.