How much work involved in a Head Gasket?

1. silver_saxo Frequent Poster Joined: Oct 2005 Exeter/Surrey United Kingdom (England) Posts: 883

   #1 23rd May 2007, 13:36

   I was looking at a 205 Gti 1.9 but the head gasket has gone.
   
   Would this be hard to fix or expensive? I would be doing it myself.
2. Karl Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Apr 2006 Ashford Posts: 25611 LY R26

   #2 23rd May 2007, 13:42

   couple of hundred quid at a garage i believe..
3. silver_saxo Frequent Poster Joined: Oct 2005 Exeter/Surrey United Kingdom (England) Posts: 883

   #3 23rd May 2007, 13:44

   how about fitting it yourself? is that a massive pain of fairly easy?
4. mick2404 Infrequent Poster Joined: Sep 2006 Edinburgh Posts: 226 2001 Vtr,4 mini's, a GSX600F and a

   #4 23rd May 2007, 13:56

   Give yourself a day to do it. Make sure you torque the head bolts properly when putting it back together, and check them again after 500 miles.
   
   As the whole thing isn't strung with electrics, and it's a single cam you shouldn't have that much of a worry.
5. silver_saxo Frequent Poster Joined: Oct 2005 Exeter/Surrey United Kingdom (England) Posts: 883

   #5 23rd May 2007, 13:59

   So would it be worth buying this 205 gti then if its a minter apart from this?
6. mick2404 Infrequent Poster Joined: Sep 2006 Edinburgh Posts: 226 2001 Vtr,4 mini's, a GSX600F and a

   #6 23rd May 2007, 14:04

   I would have said so....
   
   As an example, head gasket change on my mini took me about 2 1/2 hours.
   
   It's really a case of following instructions from a haynes manual.
   
   Also when the head's off, do yourself a favour and get it skimmed.
   
   It shouldn't cost you more than about 40 quid, and it'd be WELL worth it...
   
   Good luck if you go for it..
7. Ste Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2007 Yorkshire Posts: 5415 Saxo

   #7 23rd May 2007, 14:07

   You'll need to replace the oil & rad water aswell IRC
8. mick2404 Infrequent Poster Joined: Sep 2006 Edinburgh Posts: 226 2001 Vtr,4 mini's, a GSX600F and a

   #8 23rd May 2007, 14:09

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by Ste_1 You'll need to replace the oil & rad water aswell IRC

   Yeah, thankfully not a big job, also, if you can get your hands on some, radiator flush (which you should be able to get at any motor factors) would be a VERY good idea if you've had oil/water mixture.
   
   Might as well do an oil filter change while your on.. lol
9. silver_saxo Frequent Poster Joined: Oct 2005 Exeter/Surrey United Kingdom (England) Posts: 883

   #9 23rd May 2007, 14:31

   i'm very tempted! sounds like a good project!
10. mick2404 Infrequent Poster Joined: Sep 2006 Edinburgh Posts: 226 2001 Vtr,4 mini's, a GSX600F and a

    #10 23rd May 2007, 14:35

    Also, should have mentioned, with the 1.9 gti, you can get a head gasket kit that comes with new head bolts/studs.
    
    Make sure you get that one as part of the problem with them blowing head gaskets are stretched studs.
11. williamsvts Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Feb 2006 northumberland Posts: 7693 pulsar gtir, mk4 astra sxi

    #11 23rd May 2007, 14:37

    thats becasue the bolts are designed to stretch, hence them being called stretch bolts.
12. mick2404 Infrequent Poster Joined: Sep 2006 Edinburgh Posts: 226 2001 Vtr,4 mini's, a GSX600F and a

    #12 23rd May 2007, 14:46

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by williamsvts thats becasue the bolts are designed to stretch, hence them being called stretch bolts.

    lol.. particularly observant..
    
    Obviously it's just a case of keeping the engine serviced and well maintained to reduce head gasket failure...
13. VTS_16v_Boy Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2006 Dartford Kent Posts: 5251 Pug 1007 HDi Sport (daily) / Abarth 500

    #13 23rd May 2007, 15:21

    Hmmm Id want the head skimmed but you can remove the head and have that done else where.
    
    Thats the only thing that would put me off doing a head gaskett really.
    
    Somepeople may say not to bother but I wouldnt be happy unless the head had been skimmed.
14. Ste Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2007 Yorkshire Posts: 5415 Saxo

    #14 23rd May 2007, 15:31

    Get a metal ruler and rest it on its side from corner to corner of the head..
    
    X <Like that
    
    Shine a light behind it and, If theres a gap you can see light coming through then it needs skimming if not then dont bother...
15. Danhunt Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: May 2007 Co Durham/Hereford Posts: 3044 'Floz' Citroen saxo 1.1 [RIP], Escort XR3i, 306 Tu

    #15 4th June 2007, 00:40

    yeh was gona say make sure to check if the head needed skimming, mine went 200miles back.
    400quid gone
    haha but if you can do it yourself its cheap.
16. D34no Regular Poster Joined: Feb 2007 cheshire, winsford Posts: 493 VTS track car, vtr

    #16 4th June 2007, 18:30

    i did mine in just over an hour with me m8, peice of piss. may take a couple of hours if u have never done one though!