Head Gasket - Rough cost? Indy recommendations?

S

sk93

Lifer
Reckon I need a new head gasket (slight mayo in the oil, coolant disappearing, sweet/sickly smell and faint white smoke from exhaust).
Never overheated / run dry, no other issues.. but with a HGF, its only likely to get worse as times goes on... :/

Anyone have a rough idea on pricing for this?
Anyone have an idea on timescales for this work?
Anyone got an indy recommendation?
:headbang:
 
Is it M54 engine? Would you like to post some pictures of your coolant (expansion tank) and picture of oil dip stick, i would like to see what oil looks like.
Head gasket failures are not so common in M54 engine.
 
I would say you have a coolant leak mate, get the system pressure tested first.

As others have said, head gasket isn't that common on the M54.
 
defo not a coolant leak, as I've had that pressure tested already.
will take some piccies on the next cig break!
 
Have you checked expansion tank? (doesnt always show up on a pressure test!)

Any residue around the thermostat or water pump at the front of the engine?
 
hopz121 said:
Have you checked expansion tank? (doesnt always show up on a pressure test!)

Any residue around the thermostat or water pump at the front of the engine?
Click to expand...

yep - changed expansion tank about 6 months ago. no problems now.
no visible residue around either the pump or the stat.

coolant loss is on par with exhaust vapour I'd say (about 150ml in six months)
 
hopz121 said:
Any water in the undertray? or a wet patch?

Small leak from the rad or a pipe possibly?
Click to expand...

nope. absolutely zero leaks visible at all, either hot, cold, or under pressure.
even tried talc on the pipes and plastic joints to check for even the smallest of leaks, and nothing.
 
hmmm sounds like you may have an issue then :(

How bad is the mayo in the oil cap?

What is your daily commute like in the car?

Far away or close to home?
 
hopz121 said:
hmmm sounds like you may have an issue then :(

How bad is the mayo in the oil cap?

What is your daily commute like in the car?

Far away or close to home?
Click to expand...

in the cap? its worse than the "normal" amount.
In the dipstick? about 0.5mm of "mayo" at the top of the oil line.

commute is about 7 miles each way, but I do get a lot of longer distance driving in (did over 500 at the weekend)
 
Did you say you've had the cylinders pressure checked? And no issues with any of them?
Don't know what the costs would be for the 3.0 - I know for the 3.4 its eye-watering... :cry:
 
markeg said:
Did you say you've had the cylinders pressure checked? And no issues with any of them?
Don't know what the costs would be for the 3.0 - I know for the 3.4 its eye-watering... :cry:
Click to expand...

I had the coolant system pressure checked.
By eye watering.. are we talking well over a grand?
 
here's some quick cellphone pics

2015-03-02%2016.04.49.jpg

2015-03-02%2016.05.08.jpg
 
I am no expert mechanic, but i would say that is normal if you are only driving short distances in winter time. My fathers E46 do exactly the same in winter, when summer tempeatures come oil is normal again.

If oil and coolant has been mixing, then all of the oil will look like this:

http://www.rodsautocenter.com/Picture_130_op_800x600.jpg

I would say if car is running normally and oil or coolant do not look like baileys liquor.. just drive.
 
Id expect that sort of oil when it goes fully...
and I appreciate the reply, but then what would be causing the sweet/sickly smoke?
 
sk93 said:
Id expect that sort of oil when it goes fully...
and I appreciate the reply, but then what would be causing the sweet/sickly smoke?
Click to expand...

Hi,

If you think coolant is getting into a combustion chamber, you can prove this by either having a combustion gas "sniff" test done on your cooling system (Most garages have the gear)

or

Take the spark plugs out and look for one that is appreciably cleaner than the other 5 (It's being steam cleaned!)

Hopefully it's something not to serious :wink:

Stu.
 
Start her up let it tick over for a few minutes then take the header tank cap off and see if your getting any bubbles in the water.

Rob
 
markeg said:
Did you say you've had the cylinders pressure checked? And no issues with any of them?
Don't know what the costs would be for the 3.0 - I know for the 3.4 its eye-watering... :cry:
Click to expand...
To be fair, a big chunk of the cost of a HG replacement on the 3.4S engine is due to the cost of the HG itself

For normal cars the parts are pretty reasonable but labour costs for a HG replacement are the biggest part of the bill
 
PerryGunn said:
markeg said:
Did you say you've had the cylinders pressure checked? And no issues with any of them?
Don't know what the costs would be for the 3.0 - I know for the 3.4 its eye-watering... :cry:
Click to expand...
To be fair, a big chunk of the cost of a HG replacement on the 3.4S engine is due to the cost of the HG itself
For normal cars the parts are pretty reasonable but labour costs for a HG replacement are the biggest part of the bill
Click to expand...
Especially if Phil C gets the copper ones done :)

sk93 said:
By eye watering.. are we talking well over a grand?
Click to expand...

Yep, would budget about £1200-£1500, but the 3.4 HG is about £500 of that (at a good indy, labour would be a lot more at a dealer)... so I would have thought yours should be around £1000 all in.
 
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