Head gasket

cuculainn

Hi

So starting a new thread cause i highjacked another one and caused all sorts of confusion

so the head gasket is gone on my 132 (dec) mazda 6.

Repair is at best 3k and at worst.....well wouldnt even quote if we needed a new head etc

what are my options and where do i stand, it has a full mazda service history,
was serviced in jan, never overheated to my knowledge

any comeback with mazda??

LollipopJimmy

What's the mileage?

I wouldn't have thought there would be any comeback from Mazda TBH.

Also overheating is a symptom of HGF rather than a cause.

Now, 3k for a HG is fierce steep, get yourself to an indy and you will have it done for a lot less.

bazz26

I'd imagine the 3k figure is for a replacement engine because the old one was cooked rather than just skimming the block and replacing the hg.

cuculainn

bazz26 wrote: »

I'd imagine the 3k figure is for a replacement engine because the old one was cooked rather than just skimming the block and replacing the hg.

No that is for skimming and replacing if it is possible to skim
as far as i know a new engine is alot more than that

There is 110k miles on it. Full service.
What causes a hgf so ?

Thanks for all the replies

LollipopJimmy

cuculainn wrote: »

No that is for skimming and replacing.

There is 110k miles on it. Full service.
What causes a hgf so ?

Thanks for all the replies

Extreme engine temps from low oil or low coolant is the main reason but there are a multitude of reasons.

You will need new oil, new coolant, the gasket, head bolts (the bolts are single use) and a few other odds and ends. If the head is not cracked and only needs a skim then you should be paying at most about half what you were quoted.

cuculainn

LollipopJimmy wrote: »

Extreme engine temps from low oil or low coolant is the main reason but there are a multitude of reasons.

You will need new oil, new coolant, the gasket, head bolts (the bolts are single use) and a few other odds and ends. If the head is not cracked and only needs a skim then you should be paying at most about half what you were quoted.

it never suffered from low oil or low coolant.......
I could live with a cost of 1500 but i feel it is unlikely that it will get away with that.

a week before a terrible smell came into the car from the heater when the missus was driving it. even people near where she parked could smell it. it was across the road from mazda. I brough it in to them after having a look under the bonnet and noticing that the coolant bottle was full to overflowing.
they checked the car and said the smell was from a regen that had started but didnt get to finish, and that was the smell. said the car was 100% and to give it a good drive on way home to get a regen in.

so that was a weeks extra driving and potential to overheat:(

cuculainn

cuculainn wrote: »

it never suffered from low oil or low coolant.......
I could live with a cost of 1500 but i feel it is unlikely that it will get away with that.

a week before a terrible smell came into the car from the heater when the missus was driving it. even people near where she parked could smell it. it was across the road from mazda. I brough it in to them after having a look under the bonnet and noticing that the coolant bottle was full to overflowing.
they checked the car and said the smell was from a regen that had started but didnt get to finish, and that was the smell. said the car was 100% and to give it a good drive on way home to get a regen in.

so that was a weeks extra driving and potential to overheat:(

The coolant bottle overflowing is a symptom also. Gasses from combustion are pushed into the coolant and the only way is out through the overflow and the excess pressure of the closed system pushing the coolant up to appear full.

Once the engine cooled down did the coolant level drop again?

cuculainn

Deleted User wrote: »

The coolant bottle overflowing is a symptom also. Gasses from combustion are pushed into the coolant and the only way is out through the overflow and the excess pressure of the closed system pushing the coolant up to appear full.

Once the engine cooled down did the coolant level drop again?

Nope, always stayed full

Brian Scan

LollipopJimmy wrote: »

What's the mileage?

Also overheating is a symptom of HGF rather than a cause.

cuculainn wrote: »

What causes a hgf so ?

LollipopJimmy wrote: »

Extreme engine temps from low oil or low coolant is the main reason but there are a multitude of reasons.

??

LollipopJimmy

Brian Scan wrote: »

??

I've worded things badly, the OP was saying the car hadn't overheated, what I was trying to say was the car wouldn't necessarily have to have overheated for the HG to fail, the second part was a response to a different question.

cuculainn

LollipopJimmy wrote: »

I've worded things badly, the OP was saying the car hadn't overheated, what I was trying to say was the car wouldn't necessarily have to have overheated for the HG to fail, the second part was a response to a different question.

So apparently this engine has an aluminium head and cannot be skimmed. So if it can't be refitted with new gasket then it's a new head. Which is 1600 on top of the price.

An alternative option would be a new engine, which can be supplied and fitted for 3800.

Another alternative is to get an independent mechanic to do the head for less than the dealer quoted and hope it doesnt need a new head.

Farfromhome02

Crazy money
Lots of the modern stuff appear to be balls of scrap
Friend of mines Peugeot engine went aswell,132 full service history
Feel sorry for you
Personally I would get rid of it
3800 euro and some more I'd reckon,always comes in over the price
Who has that money floating around to fix a car

cuculainn

Farfromhome02 wrote: »

Crazy money
Lots of the modern stuff appear to be balls of scrap
Friend of mines Peugeot engine went aswell,132 full service history
Feel sorry for you
Personally I would get rid of it
3800 euro and some more I'd reckon,always comes in over the price
Who has that money floating around to fix a car

How exactly would you get rid of it? And what would I replace it with? Genuine question.

Farfromhome02

I know you are not want to hear this,advertise car as needing to be fixed
Or trade it in the way it is but I don't know what money you have for another car
Car with that mileage shouldn't be needing a head gasket already
Did you buy it new or 2nd hand?
3800 euro would buy you a decent car,who's to say the next engine they put in isn't another lemon

cuculainn

Farfromhome02 wrote: »

I know you are not want to hear this,advertise car as needing to be fixed
Or trade it in the way it is but I don't know what money you have for another car
Car with that mileage shouldn't be needing a head gasket already
Did you buy it new or 2nd hand?
3800 euro would buy you a decent car,who's to say the next engine they put in isn't another lemon

Have the car about 3 years. The engine would be a fully reconditioned engine.
I do hear your point though. Just don't know if I would get anything as it is.
Would 4k get you a better car than this with a new engine

rex-x

cuculainn wrote: »

So apparently this engine has an aluminium head and cannot be skimmed. So if it can't be refitted with new gasket then it's a new head. Which is 1600 on top of the price.

An alternative option would be a new engine, which can be supplied and fitted for 3800.

Another alternative is to get an independent mechanic to do the head for less than the dealer quoted and hope it doesnt need a new head.

Pretty much every engine in the world now has an aluminium head, they can be skimmed just fine

cuculainn

rex-x wrote: »

Pretty much every engine in the world now has an aluminium head, they can be skimmed just fine

Shows you what I know. Mazda guy says it cannot be skimmed. Something to do with micro cracks.
They are probably filling me with......

Farfromhome02

cuculainn wrote: »

Have the car about 3 years. The engine would be a fully reconditioned engine.
I do hear your point though. Just don't know if I would get anything as it is.
Would 4k get you a better car than this with a new engine

My honest opinion I wouldn't be happy parting with nearly 4 k for a recon engine,that's just me.loads of quality cars going around for that money,me personally I am not interested in how new a car or fresh a reg is,just prefare a reliable car that doesn't cost a fortune and can be fixed cheaply.

cuculainn

Farfromhome02 wrote: »

My honest opinion I wouldn't be happy parting with nearly 4 k for a recon engine,that's just me.loads of quality cars going around for that money,me personally I am not interested in how new a car or fresh a reg is,just prefare a reliable car that doesn't cost a fortune and can be fixed cheaply.

I fully agree with you. What would you put in that bracket?

Farfromhome02

Me personally
I like anything vag,everyone has their own opinion
You would get a lovely Skoda,Audi,VW for 4 k
3 vags in the family,2 Audi,one vw
Have gave no trouble atal once looked after,serviced on time and timing belt and pump done when due
Have a look at
A4 s
Octavia's
Golf/Passat
I'm not sure what size car you need,diesel or petrol?
How much driving you do?

LollipopJimmy

Stop bringing the jaysis car to Mazda, go to an Indy.

CoBo55

LollipopJimmy wrote: »

Stop bringing the jaysis car to Mazda, go to an Indy.

Best post so far.

jochenstacker

Question, does the head always have to be skimmed?
I understand it needs to be done if the engine overheated and as a result the head warped. But if the damage wasn't due to extreme heat, is it absolutely necessary?
I've replaced two head gaskets that failed due to old age, but those were on a 1984 Merc and a 1973 Cortina, so I suspect modern engines have far closer tolerances than stuff from half a century ago ...

cuculainn

Yes. I will be bringing it to an indy. The Mazda garage just happened to be close so went to them just to check what was up.

It's a royal pain in the butt......I officially hate cars

LollipopJimmy

cuculainn wrote: »

Yes. I will be bringing it to an indy. The Mazda garage just happened to be close so went to them just to check what was up.

It's a royal pain in the butt......I officially hate cars

Seems yours doesn't like you too much either

Maybe give a general location and somebody will give you a recommendation

cuculainn

LollipopJimmy wrote: »

Seems yours doesn't like you too much either

Maybe give a general location and somebody will give you a recommendation

Galway

zilog_jones

Is it a 2.2 diesel? They seem to be nothing but trouble, I'd be reluctant to spend any money on this.
Could oil dilution lead to a head gasket failure?

cuculainn

zilog_jones wrote: »

Is it a 2.2 diesel? They seem to be nothing but trouble, I'd be reluctant to spend any money on this.
Could oil dilution lead to a head gasket failure?

I have been paranoid about oil thining with it so i dont think that was the cause (while i had it anyway)

i think i will cut my losses:(