Volvo XC90 head gasket

Jerome77

Hi,

Has anyone any idea on how big a job price wise is a head gasket on a 2004 volvo xc90.

Love the car, I dont want the insurance to right it off. It's acting up after a knock. Keeps running low on coolant and spitting coolant out. Someone told me could be head gasket.

Thanks

biko

First make absolutely sure it is the head gasket.
It is something people like to say when they don't know what is wrong.

Where does it spit coolant from?

Jerome77

It defo is the head gasket. Got conformation. Anyone know what price it will be to get fixed ? Ball park ?

Renegade Mechanic

Jerome77 wrote: »

It defo is the head gasket. Got conformation. Anyone know what price it will be to get fixed ? Ball park ?

I'd ask whether its diesel or petrol but they're both big, complex engines. Expect around 700 with a good indy to facilitate things like head skimming/testing and all that.
Don't scrap it if everything else is good, they're a nice car.

Jerome77

Diesel automatic. Thanks

Hellrazer

Very unusual for a head gasket to go on an xc90.
Never seen one in my time in Volvo.
I'd get a second opinion.

Renegade Mechanic

Hellrazer wrote: »

Very unusual for a head gasket to go on an xc90.
Never seen one in my time in Volvo.
I'd get a second opinion.

Thinking that myself but it apparently got a "knock", so I'm guessing rad rupture and it ran out of coolant, or something afterwards.

Jerome77

Hellrazer wrote: »

Very unusual for a head gasket to go on an xc90.
Never seen one in my time in Volvo.
I'd get a second opinion.

That was a second opinion, I had a small crash (knock) the right wing got damaged a small bit, at the scene there was a bit of coolant leaking. Next few days coolant kept emptying . End result head gasket gone ? (So I am told ) Does this make sense ?

Renegade Mechanic

Jerome77 wrote: »

That was a second opinion, I had a small crash (knock) the right wing got damaged a small bit, at the scene there was a bit of coolant leaking. Next few days coolant kept emptying . End result head gasket gone ? (So I am told ) Does this make sense ?

Hang on now, did they explain what test they carried out?

Jerome77

Renegade Mechanic wrote: »

Hang on now, did they explain what test they carried out?

No.they did not..it is an insurance alligned garage

Renegade Mechanic

Jerome77 wrote: »

No.they did not..it is an insurance alligned garage

Hmmmm... I'd get a full explanation - they are a tough engine but the toughest won't survive coolant loss for long.
See if they fixed the leak (Rad rupture? Broken pipe?) and with no coolant leaking, what they did to determine head gasket failure.
Exhaust bubbles coming up in the coolant reservoir is the most obvious and common giveaway. (which can't be determined with coolant gone away..)
Or engine oil that's turned to mayonnaise.
Or coolant that's turned the same way.

I'd start poking about tbh...

Hellrazer

A crash won't do in a head gasket..Unless it was a substantial impact.
Im 99.99999% sure that it's NOT the head gasket gone.

I'd suspect that it's either the thermostat housing (made of plastic) or one of the coolant pipes that was damaged in the crash.

Jerome77

Thanks Guys. Really appreciate the comments. I will report back to you.

rex-x

Hellrazer wrote: »

A crash won't do in a head gasket..Unless it was a substantial impact.
Im 99.99999% sure that it's NOT the head gasket gone.

I'd suspect that it's either the thermostat housing (made of plastic) or one of the coolant pipes that was damaged in the crash.

It will very quickly if the rad is damaged and any significant amount of coolant comes out as a result

Jerome77

The second opinion garage pressure tested it . Can I ask does this add up ?

mullingar

If the head gasket is gone, either a) coolant will get into the combustion chamber or b) exhaust pressure will go into the coolant system or c) exhaust out the side of the engine.

If a compression check came back good and they also did a pressure check on the coolant system with no leak, it's not a head gasket.

Jerome77

mullingar wrote: »

If the head gasket is gone, either a) coolant will get into the combustion chamber or b) exhaust pressure will go into the coolant system or c) exhaust out the side of the engine.

If a compression check came back good and they also did a pressure check on the coolant system with no leak, it's not a head gasket.

The guy said he pressure tested it and also the coolant is bubbling ? In his opinion head gasket is gone

Renegade Mechanic

Jerome77 wrote: »

The guy said he pressure tested it and also the coolant is bubbling ? In his opinion head gasket is gone

Assuming he pressurised the cylinders (unconventional, but surefire nonetheless) and bubbles showed up in the reservoir then it is indeed a case where the head gasket has failed.
Lousy

Hellrazer

It just doesn't make sense that a small "knock" has done the head gasket in.

We need more info..Was the car driven after the crash with no coolant in it??Thats the only explanation that would make any sense.

As I said earlier..in 7 years working in Volvo I never ever saw a head gasket go in an xc90.

Renegade Mechanic

Hellrazer wrote: »

It just doesn't make sense that a small "knock" has done the head gasket in.

We need more info..Was the car driven after the crash with no coolant in it??Thats the only explanation that would make any sense.

As I said earlier..in 7 years working in Volvo I never ever saw a head gasket go in an xc90.

I don't think so either, which is why I just assumed the "small knock" was the variable in this particular equation and rolled with that

I'd be almost positive the car was driven without coolant accidentally, and that the bubbles showing up now are the unfortunate result.

Jerome77

Does anyone know is it costly to get head gasket replaced / fixed.

It seems it ran out of coolant after crash

Renegade Mechanic

Renegade Mechanic wrote: »

I'd ask whether its diesel or petrol but they're both big, complex engines. Expect around 700 with a good indy to facilitate things like head skimming/testing and all that.
Don't scrap it if everything else is good, they're a nice car.

Jerome77 wrote: »

Does anyone know is it costly to get head gasket replaced / fixed.

It seems it ran out of coolant after crash

Someone provided a rough price already.

"It seems it ran out of coolant after crash" were you driving it? Did the engine get hot? Any warning on dash etc etc etc? Temp gauge rise above half way??

tonto24

Jerome77 wrote: »

Does anyone know is it costly to get head gasket replaced / fixed.

It seems it ran out of coolant after crash

Ring a main dealer and ask. They should give you a price on the job over the phone.