Vauxhall Head Gasket repair made easy

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Total expert Vauxhall head gasket repair mechanics

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Top Mechanics For Vauxhall Head Gasket Repair & Replacements

1229 Reviews

Garage in Darwen, 14 years of experience

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Garage in Alloa, 18 years of experience

Renault and Nissan trained Spent last 8 years at Ford as a senior tech and commercial specialist all jobs undertaking inc welding and Bodyshop Diagnostic specialist over 18 years experience Cover a v...

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Diagnostic Diagnostic + Health Check Oil and Filter Change Full Service Brake pads Brake Disc Rear Brake Shoes AC Refill Radiators Change Suspension Manual Transmission Oil Automatic Trans...

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I have been interested in the car repair industry for almost my entire life. The first few years were spent learning the trade and I went to college to study it properly. I worked at a garage as a BMW specia...

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Garage in Rayleigh , 24 years of experience

I am a friendly and professional mechanic with 21 years of motor repair experience working for various motor repair companies. Some of the repairs I offer include cylinder head replacements, clutch replaceme...

987 Reviews

Garage in Enfield, 30 years of experience

We provide MOT tests, servicing and car repairs on all makes and models in Enfield and surrounding areas. Catering for customers in Enfield, Cheshunt, Barnet and Southgate, we offer quality car servicing and...

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Mobile mechanic in Milton Keynes, 35 years of experience

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Garage in Glasgow, 24 years of experience

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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...

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Garage in Leeds, 20 years of experience

We are a local garage that offer everything from remapping, Servicing, repairs, maintenance, exhausts, clutches, brakes, welding, alloy wheel refurb, wheel recolours, MOT's and much more and also as well as ...

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Garage in Edinburgh, 20 years of experience

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Garage in Birmingham, 15 years of experience

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Garage in Tipton, 28 years of experience

Princes End Garage are experts in all aspects of vehicle repairs & servicing for most makes & models of cars, also providing professional services for vehicle remapping to get more power and economy out of y...

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Garage in West Bromwich, 40 years of experience

KJ Motors is an independent garage based in West Bromwich with a five star rating on google and check a trader . Sid as he is affectionately known by the locals owns and runs the garage. Sid is a fully quali...

Frequently asked questions about Vauxhall head gasket repair & replacements

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

What does a cylinder head gasket replacement on my Vauxhall 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 Vauxhall 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 on my Vauxhall?

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 often should you replace my Vauxhall head gasket?

As soon as the efficiency of the cylinder head gasket is compromised, the gasket needs to be replaced prior to the engine being used again.

If the oil and coolant has mixed, the lubricating quality of the oil is non existent and its ability to preserve the internal parts of the engine is lost. Continuing to run the engine will ultimately end in severed damage to it. The same goes for the cooling system, with the water channels and radiators becoming blocked. If the coolant is being lost, the engine will overheat. This is not good for the metal components of the engine and the aluminium cylinder head could be damaged beyond repair.

How common is a cylinder head gasket replacement on my Vauxhall?

Whilst cylinder head gasket replacement is not as common as it was 20 or so years ago, it still occurs. Certain engines are prone to it happening and the use of smaller engines with turbochargers puts increased pressure on the gaskets.

How do I prevent Vauxhall 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.

What are the symptoms of a bad Vauxhall 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)

Is it worth fixing a blown Vauxhall head gasket?

While the cost of the head gasket might not be much, the work involved to fix or replace it requires a lot of time and effort which is why the cost can be quite expensive. Whether it is worth replacing or not depends on the value of the vehicle. If the vehicle is old and the cost of the replacing the head gasket is more than the value of the car then it's best to sell or scrap the car.

How much does it cost to repair a blown gasket on Vauxhall?

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 Vauxhall 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 local garages offer home collection and delivery for Vauxhall head gasket repair?

Yes, many local garages are able to offer collection and delivery for a head gasket repair on your Vauxhall. 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 on your Vauxhall.

Can mobile mechanics do Vauxhall head gasket repair at my home or office?

Typically no, mobile mechanics cannot do a head gasket repair at your home or office on your Vauxhall, 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 on your Vauxhall and then take the car to a garage to carry out the head gasket repair.

How much does a Vauxhall head gasket repair cost?

The cost for a Vauxhall head gasket repair depends on the model of your Vauxhall. See the averages for different models below. We use industry standard data & millions of data points so you know what you should be paying.

Name Average Cost
Vauxhall ADAM £501 Get exact price
Vauxhall Agila £547 Get exact price
Vauxhall Antara £596 Get exact price
Vauxhall Astra £566 Get exact price
Vauxhall Astra GTC £656 Get exact price
Vauxhall Astravan £618 Get exact price
Vauxhall Calibra £567 Get exact price
Vauxhall Cavalier £329 Get exact price
Vauxhall Combo £618 Get exact price
Vauxhall Corsa £548 Get exact price
Vauxhall Corsavan £584 Get exact price
Vauxhall Frontera £480 Get exact price
Vauxhall Insignia £614 Get exact price
Vauxhall Meriva £583 Get exact price
Vauxhall Mokka £574 Get exact price
Vauxhall Movano £946 Get exact price
Vauxhall Nova £378 Get exact price
Vauxhall Omega £575 Get exact price
Vauxhall Signum £649 Get exact price
Vauxhall Tigra £521 Get exact price
Vauxhall Vectra £574 Get exact price
Vauxhall Vivaro £796 Get exact price
Vauxhall VX220 £632 Get exact price
Vauxhall Zafira £581 Get exact price
Vauxhall Zafira Tourer £519 Get exact price

Average costs for 10 models not shown due to insufficient data. Show ∨

  • Vauxhall Ampera
  • Vauxhall Viva
  • Vauxhall Arena
  • Vauxhall GT
  • Vauxhall Sintra
  • Vauxhall Brava
  • Vauxhall Monterey
  • Vauxhall Monaro
  • Vauxhall VXR8
  • Vauxhall Cascada

Estimates on average repair costs, such as the above results for a head gasket repair, are based on ClickMechanic's quote data which combines multiple third-party sources. Actual costs may vary. We provide estimates on average repair costs for information only and accept no liability for any inaccuracies or errors. If you think an estimate is incorrect, please contact us to let us know.

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