Top Mechanics For Head Gasket Repair & Replacements in St Helens
1451 Reviews
Garage serving St Helens, 14 years of experience
I started my apprenticeship when I left school at the age of 15. I’ve been fully qualified for 11+ years with NVQ level 1, 2 and 3. I’ve been an MOT tester for 10 years. Here at Jamie’s mobile mechanic w...
JORDON, ST HELENS • 27th September 2023
270 Reviews
Garage serving St Helens, 12 years of experience
I started off my career at a local independent garage where I stayed for 5 years. This was a VW, Audi specialist, which really gave me some in-depth knowledge on these vehicles. Following this I then went on...
DEBRA, SAINT HELENS • 24th October 2016
Renault Clio II/Clio Campus/Clio Storia • Cylinder head & gasket replacement
16 Reviews
Garage serving St Helens, 20 years of experience
Thonton Autos, is on Water Street, Thornton, behind the new Tescos Express. At our Garage we aim to give our customers the satisfaction that any work done has been carried out professionally, in a reasonable...
159 Reviews
Garage serving St Helens, 9 years of experience
I have 9 years experience in the auto repair industry which started with my apprenticeship at an independent. Having completed my apprenticeship I then went onto work for a number of other independents befor...
63 Reviews
Garage serving St Helens, 5 years of experience
Qwickfix always aim for the best, always happy to go the extra mile for all our customers.
701 Reviews
Mobile mechanic serving St Helens, 8 years of experience
I started by studying at City College in Leeds and gained my City & Guild qualifications up to level 3 and I undertook a garage job whilst studying in order to gain great experience. Whilst I was studying I ...
JULIE, Wakefield • 27th July 2016
Vauxhall/Opel Corsa-B • Cylinder head & gasket replacement
Garage in Manchester, 15 years of experience
We are passionate about cars and have restored and traded in classic and performance cars for over a decade. Over the years we have built up a network of specialists contacts and tradespeople in the indus...
194 Reviews
Mobile mechanic in Loppington, 33 years of experience
Hometune was originally established in 1968 as the first mobile car engine tuning company in the UK. Originally a franchise with over 150 vans nationwide, we have been owned and run by such companies as Maz...
141 Reviews
Garage in Bradford, 19 years of experience
Richard Street Garage situated on Leeds Road, Bradford, provides efficient, value-for-money servicing for all makes and models of cars and light vans in the Bradford, Shipley and Leeds area. We are also an M...
SCOTT, Leeds • 21st December 2017
27 Reviews
Mobile mechanic in Telford, 19 years of experience
I carried out my apprenticeship at an independent Land Rover specialist before moving on to work in a main dealer garage. I then worked with a private company running and maintaining a fleet of vehicles. ...
243 Reviews
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 ...
39 Reviews
Garage in Castleford, 11 years of experience
I completed my apprenticeship at Porsche and spent 3 great years there before moving to a body-shop in Leeds for 2 years before deciding to move into teaching for a year and taught mechanical studies in Leed...
STEVE, Wakefield • 13th November 2020
204 Reviews
Garage in Worksop , 10 years of experience
we are a family run business specialising in complex diagnostics issues and emissions problems including dpf filters we also have a fully equipped workshop to carry out general repairs and maintenance we are...
25 Reviews
Garage in Birmingham, 15 years of experience
I began my career in Zimbabwe in 2002 before moving to the UK in 2004. My first role within the UK was in Wolverhampton with Audi for over 4 years from 2006-2010; I moved to work with Oxford BMW for 3 years ...
618 Reviews
Garage in Birmingham, 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...
JOHN, Shrewsbury • 1st December 2019
Fiat Panda • Cylinder head gasket replacement
Frequently asked questions about head gasket repair & replacements in St Helens
Read our answers to questions about head gasket repair costs, symptoms and more.
What does a cylinder head gasket replacement in St Helens 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 St Helens?
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 St Helens?
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 St Helens garages offer home collection and delivery for head gasket repair?
Yes, many garages in St Helens 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 St Helens.
Can St Helens mobile mechanics do head gasket repair at my home or office?
Typically no, St Helens 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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Mechanics in and around St Helens
- Kpl Auto Services, Merseyside
- Liverpool Car Clinic LTD, Liverpool
- Mark Collier, Newton Le Willows
- Mdv Automotive, Runcorn
- Merseytyres And Autocentre, Runcorn
- Mobile Auto Care Ltd, Skelmersdale