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Expert Local Mechanics

21

Total expert head gasket repair mechanics operating in Totton And Eling

Number of Ratings

23

Total number of head gasket repair reviews in Totton And Eling

Average Rating

Average user rating for head gasket repair bookings in Totton And Eling

Top Mechanics For Head Gasket Repair & Replacements in Totton And Eling

50 Reviews

Mobile mechanic serving Totton And Eling, 9 years of experience

I have 9 years of experience in the auto repair industry. iv worked for a variety of garages for several years and have now decided to further pursue the mobile side of the industry. I can repair all makes &...

14 Reviews

Garage serving Totton And Eling, 73 years of experience

We are a village garage and have been providing garage services to the local area since 1949 we are a family run business. Our services include: All vehicle repairs, Mot’s, servicing, winter checks and diagn...

19 Reviews

Garage serving Totton And Eling, 7 years of experience

I completed my apprenticeship at John Deere before moving to the National College of Motorsport. I have worked for top professional racing teams running cars in f3, British touring car and endurance racing. ...

291 Reviews

Garage in Amesbury, 19 years of experience

I began my career in Weybridge, Surrey for a number of garages picking up great experience to start me off before moving to the New Malden area for a number of years. Prior to setting-up my own business in 2...

92 Reviews

Garage in Isle Of Wight, 32 years of experience

I started up with a youth training team and learned there for a couple years until I moved on and went to work for a local independent garage. Stayed there for about 4 years and then went on to a better oppo...

36 Reviews

Garage in Basingstoke, 15 years of experience

Welcome to Eagle Eye Automotive, where we promise to deliver the professionalism of a main dealer and the pin point precision of a race team to the independent market! A brief history on founding technici...

233 Reviews

Garage in Farnborough , 25 years of experience

I started my career at 16 years old at a ford main dealer studying for my qualifications at the same time. Moved from ford and started building cars for films (And in the back ground started as a part tim...

1112 Reviews

Mobile mechanic in Swindon, 15 years of experience

I did my apprenticeship at a garage in Swindon as I studied with Northstar College. After graduating I left and went to Charlie Browns auto services for 2-3 years. Following my time at Charlie Browns I went ...

108 Reviews

Mobile mechanic in Crawley , 15 years of experience

I started my automotive career when I left school in Hungary in the 1990's. I then went to college and studied automotive technical engineering. Following this I worked at a local independent garage for 5 ye...

20 Reviews

Garage in Chertsey, 17 years of experience

We offer a wide range of professional mechanical repairs and Diagnostics, From Servicing to Fault Finding All Makes & Models Welcome. We provide a wide range of repairs, including: full engine re-build...

54 Reviews

Garage in Bristol, 40 years of experience

Carcraft Servicing and repairs has been operating since 1980 The garage offers a 5 bay workshop and an additional MOT bay for class 4 testing. We offer alloy and steel welding inc alloy wheel repairs , servi...

359 Reviews

Mobile mechanic in Quedgeley, 21 years of experience

I completed my apprenticeship at Brunel Ford in Bristol for around 4 years before moving to Mercedes and Vauxhall respectively to gain valuable knowledge and understand different makes & models of cars. I h...

20 Reviews

Garage serving Totton And Eling, 20 years of experience

I have been in the motor trade for 25 years, I am Running a Family Business For a While now. I'm able to collect your vehicle if it is drivable or not to be repaired at the garage . Some of the services I of...

60 Reviews

Garage serving Totton And Eling, 20 years of experience

Hi I’m Pete I’m a fully qualified mechanic, have been in the motor trade for 20 years. I am reliable and hard working, I can offer free collection and delivery I can offer MOT's, all services and repairs, cl...

Frequently asked questions about head gasket repair & replacements in Totton And Eling

Read our answers to questions about head gasket repair costs, symptoms and more.

What does a cylinder head gasket replacement in Totton And Eling involve?

There are differences between engines on the exact process and components, but the typical engine will require most of the following basics to be done

  • Mechanic will check that the head gasket is faulty.
  • The engine will be drained of oil and coolant.
  • Components will be removed to allow access to the rocker cover and ultimately, the cylinder head bolts.
  • The engine timing will be locked in place using specifically designed pins and locking tools.
  • The timing belt will be removed, or the timing chain loosened off and moved off the camshaft sprockets.
  • The cylinder head will then be undone in a specific sequence.
  • Once all the bolts are out, the cylinder head will be removed and the surface of the engine block and cylinder head will be cleaned of all residue of the old gasket.
  • In the case of the majority of cylinder heads, it will need to be pressure tested to ensure it’s structure is sound and then go through a process called skimming. This process ensures that the surface that the new gasket will come into contact with is perfectly flat and clean.
  • Once the mechanic has completed the work on the components, the engine is reassembled with a new cylinder head gasket.
  • If the engine’s camshaft(s) are driven by a timing belt, this belt will be renewed along with a new water pump if it is on the timing belt circuit.
  • Once the engine is back together, the cooling system will be refilled and the oil replenished along with a new filter.
  • If the oil has become contaminated with the coolant, an additional oil flush may be required and likewise, if the cooling system has become contaminated, the cooling system will be flushed.
  • Once everything is back together, the mechanic will run the engine.
  • Finally a road test will ensure that everything works as it should when the engine comes up to temperature and finally any error codes present will be cleared down and re-checked.

As we mentioned previously, this is not a full exhaustive list of what will be done as each engine has its own requirements.

What are the symptoms of a blown head gasket?

In most cases the symptoms of a cylinder head gasket are pretty apparent, some however take a little know how and some tools to confirm. Typical symptoms though are;

  • A cream-like colour and consistency in the oil (usually seen on the engine oil dipstick) or in the cooling system header tank.
  • Coolant overflowing out of the cooling system header tank.
  • An unexplained loss of coolant.
  • Difficulty in starting the engine.
  • Evidence of exhaust gasses in the cooling system.
  • Poor engine compression.

How long does it take to change a head gasket?

The time it takes to carry out a head gasket replacement can range from 5 hours to more than a day. Ultimately, the time that the job will take will depend on a number of factors, like your vehicle's make and model, year, type of engine, as well as other factors. Select your car at the top of this page for information on job time and cost for your vehicle through ClickMechanic.

How much does it cost to replace a head gasket in Totton And Eling?

On average, a typical head gasket repair costs £400, with prices ranging from £280 to over £1000. Ultimately, the cost of a cylinder head gasket replacement depends on your car and what parts your car's manufacturer recommends using for the replacement. Find out what you could save by having your cylinder head gasket replaced by ClickMechanic by selecting your car at the top of this page!

One final note, if you are comparing quotations, please ensure that the quotes you have included the cylinder head pressure test and skimming. Not all companies will include this up front, they will add it to the bill after advising you that it needs to be done once they have commenced the work.

How do I prevent head gasket problems?

To help prevent head gasket issues:
* Regularly check and top up the coolant level as required
* Follow the manufacturere recommended service schedule
* Inspect the engine regularly for leaks, to spot any issues early. If you see any, have them repaired as soon as possible.

Is a faulty head gasket an MOT failure?

Since the head gasket is not checked during an MOT test, it is likely that a faulty head gasket will pass an MOT. However, keep in mind that a faulty head gasket can cause problems with emissions - which is a critical point on the MOT checklist!

What are the symptoms of a bad cylinder?

Common signs of a bad cylinder include:
* Loss of power
* Poor engine performance
* Coolant leaking
* Overheating of the engine
* Smoke (from tailpipe or from cylinder head itself)

How much does it cost to repair a blown gasket in Totton And Eling?

Repairing a head gasket can cost anywhere from £500 to over £2000 depending on the make and model of the car. Most of the cost is attributed to labour as the process can take 8-10 hours as it requires the mechanic to disassemble the top of the engine, and in some cases may have to remove the engine from the car.

What are the first signs of a blown head gasket?

The first signs of a blown head gasket are usually:

  • Steam and/or water coming from the tailpipe
  • Overheating
  • White smoke coming from the tailpipe
  • Loss of power

Can Totton And Eling garages offer home collection and delivery for head gasket repair?

Yes, many garages in Totton And Eling are able to offer collection and delivery for a head gasket repair. With ClickMechanic collection & delivery is free if your vehicle is drivable. Once booked a mechanic will pick up the vehicle on the day and time of your choice, do the work, and return the vehicle at a time convenient to you. Simply enter your vehicle registration number and postcode to get an upfront price for a head gasket repair in Totton And Eling.

Can Totton And Eling mobile mechanics do head gasket repair at my home or office?

Typically no, Totton And Eling mobile mechanics cannot do a head gasket repair at your home or office, because the repair may need to be carried out on a ramp, and may need specialist equipment. Also, the time involved to carry out the work may make it more practical to carry out the work at a garage. However, if there are still some doubts as to what repair is needed, mobile mechanics may be able to carry out a diagnostic inspection at your home or office and then take the car to a garage to carry out the head gasket repair.

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