head gaskets being replaced...

[steve118]

after the heads have been replaced, will my fuel consumption go down a bit? ive heard that head gasket failure can also increase the amount of fuel you use?

i managed to get a good price ($1200) to get it done (i cant do it myself, 1. wouldnt know how. 2. no space to remove an engine atm)

anyone else ever have gaskets replaced? if so, what did you notice right away, other than not overheating haha

Update:

gasket had cracked under pressure.

[Rosssub]

9/10 Days? Fek, is Grandma doing it. Surely that\'s worst case scenario?

All depends on where the Gasket failed I think. Was it "Blowing Bubbles" (like Michael Jackson), in the Header Tank and losing Coolant?

How long has it been blown for?

Only real change should be no overheating and a happy engine. ;D

Maybe slightly better economy, because it\'s not trying to ignite Coolant/losing Compression from one Cylinder into the Coolant. With slightly more power for the same reason.

[steve118]

 Rosssub said:

9/10 Days? Fek, is Grandma doing it. Surely that\'s worst case scenario?

All depends on where the Gasket failed I think. Was it "Blowing Bubbles" (like Michael Jackson), in the Header Tank and losing Coolant?

How long has it been blown for?

Only real change should be no overheating and a happy engine. ;D

Maybe slightly better economy, because it\'s not trying to ignite Coolant/losing Compression from one Cylinder into the Coolant. With slightly more power for the same reason.

nah getting it done in 2 weekends, so car will be out of action for the time in between as well.

yes its quite badly gone, loses coolant everyday, overheats quickly, smoke out exhaust, bubbles in coolant as soon as car is turned on, the occasional ploom of smoke from right side of engine (comes out hood scoop, wheel area and bonnet gap).

been blown for approx 3/4 weeks, but wasnt so bad back then.

[Rosssub]

Yeah that\'s well blown. Cylinder to Coolant and maybe now an external leak as well. Ask your mechanic to save the Blown Gasket and load a pic for curiosity sake. Who\'s doing the repair for you?

[steve118]

 Rosssub said:

Yeah that\'s well blown. Cylinder to Coolant and maybe now an external leak as well. Ask your mechanic to save the Blown Gasket and load a pic for curiosity sake. Who\'s doing the repair for you?

its a guy who lives locally, mechanic quoted me around 3k so i took the offer of 1200 from this guy. noticed him first on nz subaru enthusiasts page on facebook. i went to see him and he had a few cars there here was working on and his workshop area looked pretty decent and he showed me all the genuine subaru parts he would be using.

ill ask him to email me the pix and ill update this thread with them later on

this was the quote:

 

1. Repair of original engine (head gasket job):

- Pull engine out & remove heads

- Machine heads & engine block (mating surface)

- Lap all valves & set valve clearances

- Replace all seals & gaskets (both head gaskets, both rocker cover gaskets, 4x cam seals, front & rear crank

seals, oil pump seal, crosspipe seals, inlet manifold gaskets, water pump gasket)

- Assemble & install,

- All labour (approx 20 hours), cleaning materials, freight, oil filter, oil & coolant included

Price for this job = $1200

[Rosssub]

Nice. Any warrantee/guarantee on work carried out?

How many Kms has the Engine done? Would it be worth replacing the Timing Kit/WP while it\'s out and easy?

[steve118]

 Rosssub said:

Nice. Any warrantee/guarantee on work carried out?

How many Kms has the Engine done? Would it be worth replacing the Timing Kit/WP while it\'s out and easy?

body 210,000 engine 170,000.

cambelt was done 10,000 ago along with water pump and fuel pump

[Rosssub]

Sweet.

Any Guarantee/Warrantee covering work carried out? Not suggesting he\'s dodgy, just always pays to cover your Butt going private. Would suck to have the new HG fail in 2 weeks, then get told "Sorry Dude, must of been a dodgy Gasket, I\'m not covering that".

[steve118]

 Rosssub said:

Sweet.

Any Guarantee/Warrantee covering work carried out? Not suggesting he\'s dodgy, just always pays to cover your Butt going private. Would suck to have the new HG fail in 2 weeks, then get told "Sorry Dude, must of been a dodgy Gasket, I\'m not covering that".

yeah i think he said 6 months parts and labour? but i will have to double check

[Rosssub]

Cool, make sure it\'s in writing somewhere. ;D

[ADIKT]

 Rosssub said:

Cool, make sure it\'s in writing somewhere. ;D

this!

[steve118]

 ADIKT']

[quote name='Rosssub said:

Cool, make sure it\'s in writing somewhere. ;D

/quote]this!

ill get a proper invoice with all the work done etc and warranty details too

[steve118]

updated topic with picture update

[Eight_dollar]

What was the cause for the failure? - external coolant loss and overheat or blocked heater core?

Sounds very cheap to being done properly -

R/C gaskets, thermostat, top hose and head machining really must be done to ensure new gaskets do not fail

Radiator and heater core MUST be checked and tested also

I hope it all works out

[steve118]

 Eight dollar said:

What was the cause for the failure? - external coolant loss and overheat or blocked heater core?

Sounds very cheap to being done properly -

R/C gaskets, thermostat, top hose and head machining really must be done to ensure new gaskets do not fail

Radiator and heater core MUST be checked and tested also

I hope it all works out

blocked heater core was first, that was fixed. then coolant loss and overheating.

heater core is running smoothly and all things related to a gasket job have been replaced. Radiator has also been unblocked at same time as heater core.

its going good so far, machinists are doing the heads now and fixing all other issues while engine is out