Book Head Gasket repair & replacement in Buckingham

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Expert Local Mechanics

38

Total expert head gasket repair mechanics operating in Buckingham

Number of Ratings

29

Total number of head gasket repair reviews in Buckingham

Average Rating

Average user rating for head gasket repair bookings in Buckingham

Top Mechanics For Head Gasket Repair & Replacements in Buckingham

21 Reviews

Mobile mechanic serving Buckingham, 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 ...

723 Reviews

Garage serving Buckingham, 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...

625 Reviews

Garage serving Buckingham, 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...

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...

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...

34 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...

521 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...

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...

1175 Reviews

Garage in Swindon, 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 ...

96 Reviews

Mobile mechanic in Reading, 19 years of experience

Mobile mechanic offering the following services for all makes and models. Servicing Repairs Diagnostics MOTs. Previously worked for the biggest fleet management service for the UK, servicing and re...

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...

1104 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...

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...

614 Reviews

Garage in Saffron Walden, 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...

Frequently asked questions about head gasket repair & replacements in Buckingham

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

What does a cylinder head gasket replacement in Buckingham 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 Buckingham?

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 Buckingham?

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 Buckingham garages offer home collection and delivery for head gasket repair?

Yes, many garages in Buckingham 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 Buckingham.

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

Typically no, Buckingham 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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