Blown Head Gasket Repair

Your vehicle is a complex structure and a mechanism, wherein there are many parts interconnected and working in liaison with each other. Some parts of a vehicle need to be replaced and repaired from time to time, as they are more vulnerable to damage.

However, some parts are designed to serve for a long time. One such long serving part is the head gasket, but like all mechanical parts, this also gets damaged over a period of time, and needs to be replaced.

So, basically head gasket is used as a sealant to the topmost part of the cylinder in a vehicle. The head gasket is located deep inside the engine of your vehicle, and therefore, it takes time for a mechanic to reach the gasket. Then, the actual repair procedure begins.

Head gaskets normally should be taken to a mechanic for repair or replacement. However, if you have complete knowledge about all the vehicle parts, the technique to handle them, and the procedure of blown head gasket repair, then you can save a lot of money, by doing it yourself! In such cases, the only requirements from your side are time and patience.

The most probable reason for a blown head gasket is overheating. This overheating is a result of leaking of the coolant, fan problems, or thermostat failure. Other important causes of a blown head gasket are installation problems, such as incorrect bolt sequence, damaged bolts, improper torque settings, etc.

Causes also include some operating circumstances that exert undue stress on the gasket, and therefore damage it. Many a time, head gaskets fail because of structural problems in the engine or the gasket itself.

Identifying the right symptoms forms a vital part of the blown head gasket diagnosis. The head gasket of your vehicle needs repair, when oil enters the coolant system (this symptom goes unseen in the initial days, therefore regular servicing is necessary).

Sometimes, the problem is reversed! The coolant enters the oil system of the vehicle, causing the oil to become thick. Other important symptoms are coolant entering the cylinders and leakages in the coolant.

Experience, knowledge, and patience are the most significant factors required to repair a blown head gasket. You'll also require a lot of time. There's nothing like repairing the head gasket. Replacement itself is repair in this case.

Read the procedure given and then decide, whether you wish to do this procedure yourself, or you would prefer going to a mechanic for the task.

• The first and foremost step in this procedure is to remove out the battery points. These points are situated at the upper portion of the car battery.

• Now, remove the air box and the intake hose. You would also encounter the air conditioning compressor in your way, so remove that.
• Remove the alternator and water pump hose. Further, drain and clean the radiator and disconnect its hoses. You would be able to see the head gasket, when you take out all the connections that reach the air conditioner.

• To remove the head gasket, observe the bolt sequence properly and them remove them accordingly.
• Once you have removed the bolts, clean the bock and head properly. Ensure all the contaminants are removed and then install the new head gasket, with proper bolt sequence.

Head gasket repair is a lengthy procedure and if you prefer taking your vehicle to the mechanic, you need to know that the procedure is going to be quite expensive. This is because of the time required, purchase cost of the new head gasket, local labor costs, etc.

The cost of a head gasket repair is somewhere about USD 1,000-USD 2,000. The labor costs in this regards are somewhere about USD 500-USD 1,500.

So now are you going to do it yourself, or are you going to go to a professional to do the work for you? Whatever you do, ensure that the problem is sorted out. All the best!