Top Mechanics For Head Gasket Repair & Replacements in Bicester
1168 Reviews
Garage serving Bicester, 20 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 ...
ROBERT, LECHLADE • 30th September 2015
Ford Fusion • Cylinder head & gasket replacement
721 Reviews
Garage serving Bicester, 30 years of experience
We are a group of skill full and highly qualified technicians based in West London and we have been running a successful mechanic & mobile repair business. Have a good client base and we specialise in comi...
ADRIAN, New Malden • 15th June 2023
Audi TT Coupe • Cylinder head gasket replacement
618 Reviews
Garage serving Bicester, 10 years of experience
I am a diagnostic technician, qualified MOT tester, Institute of Motor Industry assesor and general mechanic following my father's footsteps who has over 40 years experience in the trade. Having completed my...
RICHARD, Rowley Regis • 6th June 2017
21 Reviews
Mobile mechanic in Milton Keynes, 35 years of experience
Worked for Camden motors dealership leighton buzzard Started Unique car services stoney stratford run for 8 years Started Unique Auto centre newport pagnell ran and worked for approx 8 years Now I have ...
105 Reviews
Garage in Milton Keynes, 10 years of experience
I began my career through Mercedes Benz where I was for 1 year before moving the to AA for a year and onto OnTime Recovery Services for 2 years. In 2010 I took the decision after getting great previous exper...
110 Reviews
Garage in Milton Keynes , 10 years of experience
Refinish Centre is an experienced repairer in Milton Keynes specialising in automotive services, repairs and customisation Refinish Directors who have nearly a decade of experience in the trade, establis...
29 Reviews
Garage in London, 9 years of experience
I have worked for more than 5 years at BMW in the German city of Stuttgart, and at Mercedes for more than 4 years, and I am proud of them and the experience they gave me in the field of car repair and engine...
ROBERT, HEMEL HEMPSTEAD • 15th September 2024
84 Reviews
Garage in London, 29 years of experience
Marathon Motors has been going over 20 years and counting! We originally had a base in Watford and recently moved to new premises! Marathon Motors became Ltd in July 2017 and Aston Clarke joined the business...
516 Reviews
Garage in London, 15 years of experience
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...
38 Reviews
Garage in Bedford, 9 years of experience
Auto Remedy was born in 2018. We are a fully capable operation catering for all makes/models & repairs. On average our mechanics have over 12 years of multi vehicle experience, all with minimum industry qual...
GEOFFREY, BROUGHTON • 8th October 2019
33 Reviews
Mobile mechanic in Gloucester, 11 years of experience
I began my career with Marchant's Coaches in Cheltenham where I completed my apprenticeship and worked through college in Bristol. In total I was with Marchant's for around 5 years. I moved to the Glouces...
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...
50 Reviews
Garage in Hounslow, 25 years of experience
My name is Stuart Lucas I have been trading as RS Autos for over 3 years (since 2015) after successfully running several garages over the last 20 years, I decided to go out on my own as I am a qualified mech...
22 Reviews
Garage in Northolt, London, 7 years of experience
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...
ANGEL, London • 8th February 2022
113 Reviews
Garage in Birmingham, 30 years of experience
Has your car been giving you regular problems? Have you noticed a pipe leaking or engine overheating? Maybe it’s time you got your vehicle serviced. Who better to do it than the experts at R.P.S Garage Servi...
Frequently asked questions about head gasket repair & replacements in Bicester
Read our answers to questions about head gasket repair costs, symptoms and more.
What does a cylinder head gasket replacement in Bicester 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 Bicester?
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 Bicester?
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 Bicester garages offer home collection and delivery for head gasket repair?
Yes, many garages in Bicester 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 Bicester.
Can Bicester mobile mechanics do head gasket repair at my home or office?
Typically no, Bicester 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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