Top Mechanics For Head Gasket Repair & Replacements in Woodbridge
25 Reviews
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...
TERRY, SELECT A STATE • 24th May 2021
Vauxhall Mokka X • Cylinder head gasket replacement
31 Reviews
Garage in Canterbury, 38 years of experience
Hi, my name is Adrian and I am a fully qualified Master Technician who has been working in the motor industry for the last 36 years. I come from a main dealer background and have previously worked in Renaul...
CHRIS, Sittingbourne • 26th April 2018
Vauxhall Zafira • Cylinder head gasket replacement
14 Reviews
Garage in Tilbury, 11 years of experience
We are a relatively young company based in Tilbury, Essex. We began repairing Volvo electronic modules back in 2009. For the last decade company was mainly working on remanufacturing automotive electronic...
TERRY, Gravesend • 13th February 2020
Ford Mondeo • Cylinder head gasket replacement
198 Reviews
Garage in Woodbridge, 26 years of experience
I started my career with a tyre business called Hemel First Choice Tyres in Hemel Hempstead for 5 years. I set up my own tyre business within Bury Road Garage in Hemel Hempstead for around a year. I moved to...
28 Reviews
Mobile mechanic serving Woodbridge, 20 years of experience
I started my apprenticeship when I was 16 years old for a Volkswagen dealership. I was there for 10 years. Then I moved on and went onto gearbox reconditioning which I was there for another five years, then ...
790 Reviews
Mobile mechanic serving Woodbridge, 14 years of experience
Having previously worked for one of the U.K largest used car dealership I gained valuable experience working with all makes and models for 6 years. I then moved on to further my experience and worked for a...
JON, Suffolk • 25th May 2023
Volkswagen Polo • Premium Pre-purchase Inspection
15 Reviews
Garage serving Woodbridge, 17 years of experience
At Hamilton Automotive our mechanics have a wide range of experience and are fully qualified to the highest industry standards. We cater for all makes and models of car and light commercial vehicle. Howe...
MAURA, WOODBRIDGE • 29th December 2022
Nissan Micra • Suspension Noise Inspection
226 Reviews
Mobile mechanic serving Woodbridge, 30 years of experience
I began my career in Chadwell Heath at a garage called High road Station which is where I completed my apprenticeship. I was with the business for around 6 years, I moved to Wallinghurst Garage in Billericay...
PAUL, WOODBRIDGE • 29th March 2022
Fiat 500 • Timing belt replacement
274 Reviews
Mobile mechanic serving Woodbridge, 22 years of experience
I have over 22 years experience in the industry as well as 17 years in the main dealer. Essex Fleet Care uses fully qualified and certified technicians to ensure our workmanship remains the best quality as p...
FIONA, WOODBRIDGE • 28th October 2020
Volkswagen Golf • Flywheel replacement
126 Reviews
Garage serving Woodbridge, 16 years of experience
It's Paul from Express Auto Services. I began my career at Ford main dealership which is where I completed my apprenticeship and was with the business for over 3 years. I have worked as a technician at nu...
34 Reviews
Mobile mechanic serving Woodbridge, 22 years of experience
Lexden Vehicle Services offers professional mobile servicing, repairs, diagnostics and more in the Colchester and district area. We come to your home or place of work, weekdays or weekends at a time to suit...
ANDREW, WOODBRIDGE • 12th April 2020
Jaguar S-TYPE • Diagnostic Inspection
221 Reviews
Garage serving Woodbridge, 22 years of experience
I have been involved in cars as a designer, engineer and technician for over 22years. I have designed, developed and built bespoke sports cars, motorbikes, Ambulances and race car trailers over these year...
JOHN, MARTLESHAM HEATH • 23rd May 2023
BMW 1 Series • Fog lamp replacement - front (passenger side)
38 Reviews
Mobile mechanic serving Woodbridge, 10 years of experience
Has your car broken down? Trying to find a reliable mechanic? We will send our mechanic to repair your vehicle. No matter how big or small the repair work is, we will do our best to get your car back in work...
614 Reviews
Garage serving Woodbridge, 45 years of experience
I started out in a VW franchise dealer in 1997 undertaking my apprenticeship. Having spent 4 years there I moved onto a more senior role at another VW franchise dealership where I spent another 3 years. Foll...
HANNAH, Suffolk • 19th August 2015
21 Reviews
Mobile mechanic serving Woodbridge, 5 years of experience
Honda Main Dealer Peugeot/Citroen Main Dealer 5 years experience in this trade so far, happy to help and solve any issues. Check out my Facebook page - HM Automotive Repair
CHRISTINE, IPSWICH • 2nd September 2023
Mercedes-Benz A-Class • Brake pads replacement - front (all)
Frequently asked questions about head gasket repair & replacements in Woodbridge
Read our answers to questions about head gasket repair costs, symptoms and more.
What does a cylinder head gasket replacement in Woodbridge 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 Woodbridge?
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 Woodbridge?
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 Woodbridge garages offer home collection and delivery for head gasket repair?
Yes, many garages in Woodbridge 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 Woodbridge.
Can Woodbridge mobile mechanics do head gasket repair at my home or office?
Typically no, Woodbridge 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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