price for replacing headgasket

[Mr Revhead]

as redmist said teekay test checks for exhaust gases in the water.
a compression test checks cylinder compression
do both, compression test will cost about $45 i reckon.

that will give you a fair idea on the overall condition of the engine

[2fas4u]

yeah $90 is the price for one gasket... theres 3 types at 3 different prices


get a teekay test, thats what redmist is talking about.


btw $300 is about right, thats a thermostat $50ish, about about 2.5 hours

how far in advance do i have to book my car in to do thermostat changes?

[Akane]

If you don't want to go by my advice (I have done a MR2 headgasket before, and currently have a blown one too), then at LEAST take redmist's advice, he does build race cars.

If you want to do a compression test, it's easy, you can do it yourself, and quite cheap.

Just to remind you, my MR2 has BHG, it's got milk in the oilcaps, all the BHG symptoms, and it gives me 165psi all across the board. Due to very small and thin leaks in the headgasket, a simple compression test won't be able to give you a good enough answer.

Leakdown tests is where you do a compression test, then pour a tablespoon of oil in the cylinder via the spark plug hole, and do another compression test and see the difference, if there is a difference then your rings are bad, due to the thick cold oil will temporarily seal the pistons rings better, and that oil don't / can't / wont end up in the headgasket, hence leak down tests are useless for BHG's, only used for piston rings.

[Lloyd]

Thats not a leakdown test at all. Leakdown test is where you get the cylinder you are checking to exactly TDC and use a leakdown tester to put compressed air into the cylinder and measure the amount of leakage of the air. Typically about 10% past the rings. If it is higher then there is a likely leak.

Can use the test for burnt valve, damaged pistons/rings, blow head gasket etc. If you hear air escaping from the exhaust pipe then its an exhaust valve issue, something in the inlet then its inlet valve, excessive air out the filler cap then something with pistons/rings and if you have bubbles coming through the radiator then its likely a blow head gasket.

[2fas4u]

where can i get a teekay, test, how much it cost and how long does it take?

[2fas4u]

thanks for all the helpful advises, i will try all diff options. can't realy not drive the car as that's my daily driver and short on cash to just buy another car unfortunately. my skyline is banged up as well which i am working on.

[deaf_rattle]

we did a pressure test on the coolant system when we had a suspected bhg in the 20v silvertop 4age.

i found that to be a good test.

the gasket/head can blow/crack in different ways that will give you different symptoms.

The bhg on my first 7mgte caused the coolant system to over pressurise and blow the excess into the overflow bottle and then empty that. resulting in the need of topping it up all the time..

[2fas4u]

... caused the coolant system to over pressurise and blow the excess into the overflow bottle and then empty that. resulting in the need of topping it up all the time..

...that's exactly what's happening in my case, only that it would happen very shortly after driving through the motorway even nanadriving and no thrashing. i could hear the radiator cap screeeaming like a steam engine under pressure, but yet, no milkiness whatsoever on dipstick or oil cap.

[Akane]

Thats not a leakdown test at all. Leakdown test is where you get the cylinder you are checking to exactly TDC and use a leakdown tester to put compressed air into the cylinder and measure the amount of leakage of the air. Typically about 10% past the rings. If it is higher then there is a likely leak.

Can use the test for burnt valve, damaged pistons/rings, blow head gasket etc. If you hear air escaping from the exhaust pipe then its an exhaust valve issue, something in the inlet then its inlet valve, excessive air out the filler cap then something with pistons/rings and if you have bubbles coming through the radiator then its likely a blow head gasket.

I always thought that was the "compressed air / compressed cylinder test", I stand corrected, thanks for the updated info.

[Akane]

that's exactly what's happening in my case, only that it would happen very shortly after driving through the motorway even nanadriving and no thrashing. i could hear the radiator cap screeeaming like a steam engine under pressure, but yet, no milkiness whatsoever on dipstick or oil cap.

Milkyness doesn't always happen, it depends how the headgasket is leaking. But your symptoms does suggest it's a blown head gasket.

I don't suggest you keep driving your car in that state.

[RedMist]

then at LEAST take redmist's advice, he does DESTROY race cars.

and I'm bloody good at it as well.

[Boosted_162]

that's exactly what's happening in my case, only that it would happen very shortly after driving through the motorway even nanadriving and no thrashing. i could hear the radiator cap screeeaming like a steam engine under pressure, but yet, no milkiness whatsoever on dipstick or oil cap.

Milkyness doesn't always happen, it depends how the headgasket is leaking. But your symptoms does suggest it's a blown head gasket.

I don't suggest you keep driving your car in that state.

If you are getting water pouring out the overflow, is it most definately a BHG? If so, thats not good news for me

[AE82 FXGT]

and me...
I'm still having some cooling issues...

[Akane]

Yeap, because what happens is the combustion pressures will seep through the gasket, depending on how it's leaking, if there is a leak between the cylinder and the water cooling jacket, then the combustion pressure will seep into the cooling system and build up pressure, also heat etc will get in there, not good.

Milkyness in oil goes when there's a leak from the water jacket to the oil channels / galleries.

[Boosted_162]

Yeap, because what happens is the combustion pressures will seep through the gasket, depending on how it's leaking, if there is a leak between the cylinder and the water cooling jacket, then the combustion pressure will seep into the cooling system and build up pressure, also heat etc will get in there, not good.

Milkyness in oil goes when there's a leak from the water jacket to the oil channels / galleries.

Dammit! That combined with some frothyness/bubbling in the radiator, i think i gots me a BHG

[2fas4u]

well i guess i am nt alone then.

[2fas4u]

live in karori, work in the hutt, would cost me $15 bucks a day to get to n back from work. and it's a two process trip. can't really afford to take public transport, have to get to work by 8am. working crazy hours around christmas, so car is only sensible option. unless i can sell my car for 2 and half grand, i will have to put up with it.

[Boosted_162]

You arent alone in that situation! I got 25km each way to work, and theres no public transport round here, hence why i need to sell stuff to get a daily driver!

[2fas4u]

are these 3sgte engines prone to overheating??? fark if i had known, woulda bought a diff turbo engined car.

[Dell'Orto]

Only when illtreated, same as any motor.