Is your head gasket broken or leaking? In that case, you must repair it right away. If you want to know how much it costs to replace a head gasket, you are at the right place.
Replacing a head gasket will cost you about $1,000 to $2,000 on average. It is just the labor cost. If your car needs a brand-new gasket, it will cost you an extra $100 – $200. After the gasket replacement, changing the car’s coolant and oil is necessary. So, another $150 will hit your wallet.
A damaged head gasket is indeed a nightmare for car enthusiasts like you. It is an expensive auto service because it takes time to repair this specific part. Keep reading to know more about head gaskets.
What Is a Gasket on a Car?
Car gaskets are automotive parts sandwiched between two objects in a car, for example, a car’s cylinder and engine block. Gaskets are a component that prevents leaks, holds pressure during combustion, and distributes heat thoroughly.
Types of Gasket
Car gaskets have 4 main types, described below.
Head Gasket
Head gaskets are usually made of steel, copper, or asbestos. They act as a head gasket sealer between the cylinder head and the engine chamber. Another essential task a head gasket performs is to stop coolant or oil from leaking. Hence, controlling the risks of engine overheating and explosion.
Oil Pan Gasket
As the name suggests, it separates the oil pan from the engine block. It mainly comprises cork, rubber, or fiber sheet with latex coating. It prevents the fluid in the oil pan from leaking. If it is damaged, your car will be at risk of explosion.
Manifold Gaskets
Two manifold gaskets’ primary function is to act as an exhaust system. It seals all gaps between the engine and the manifold. And it prevents any air, oil, or coolant from leaking out. Its composition is of embossed steel usually, but sometimes metal-encased asbestos is also used.
Pump Gasket
A car’s pump gasket separates the water pump and the engine. It also prevents water and engine fluids from mixing or leaking. It is usually made with cork or rubber.
Blown Head Gasket Symptoms: Top 5 Signs
If a head gasket cracks (because of constant pressure usually), it is called a “Blown Head Gasket.” However, you cannot spot a blown head gasket easily. Let’s have a look at its most common symptoms.
White Smoke
If you start your car and notice thick white smoke from your exhaust pipe, take it as a warning sign. White smoke occurs when the coolant enters your car’s combustion chamber. And your head gasket has blown.
The white color is because your coolant is burning with air and fuel. Oil has leaked into the engine if your smoke’s color is blue. So take your cue and stop your car to call a mechanic right away.
Overheating
Engine overheating is an indicator of a blown head gasket. Overheating happens because your coolant system lacks coolant. It points to two different cases.
- Either your coolant has burned in the combustion chamber and exhausted away.
- Or the oil has seeped into your coolant system and reduced its heat transfer ability.
Both occur when your head gasket has blown away and allowed leakage of fluids—ultimately causing your engine to overheat.
Contaminated Engine Oil
A head gasket is responsible for keeping the car’s fluids (oil, coolant) in place. So, if it is broken, coolant can contaminate the engine oil, turning it into a milky liquid. If it happens, the lubrication properties of the engine oil will become nonexistent. The result can be subsequent overheating and a total engine shutdown.
A blown gasket is only sometimes the reason behind mixing oil and coolant. So you can detect your blown gasket by checking the oil filler cap. If you notice a milky and frothy liquid coming up, your blown gasket is your culprit. Otherwise, you can take your car for a check-up to identify the main issue.
Engine Knock
A blown head gasket may be the culprit if you hear a rough sound when starting your car, usually called an engine knock. The setback occurs because your engine has lost its compression.
You will likely face difficulty starting your car or notice a rough idle. That is because of increased friction in non-lubricated components in your vehicle. Although the rough idle and stalling is not only because of a blown head gasket.
You should take your car to the mechanic and test compression leaks to identify the primary cause. As a result, if you find a substantial mixing of engine oil and combustion gasses, you need to replace or repair your head gasket soon.
External Leaks
If you notice some bubbling in your radiator, your head gasket has blown. And combustion gasses are entering your coolant system. You can try a block tester to determine the leakage.
Another way to identify any external leak is to check your radiator.
- Let your car cool down for 2 hours after driving.
- Remove the radiator cap.
- Observe the bubbles.
The small quantity of bubbles in the radiator is standard. But if the bubbles have not gone away even after 10 – 20 minutes, your head gasket has failed internally.
How Long Does It Take to Replace a Head Gasket?
The overall time a head gasket takes to be replaced solely depends on how it was damaged in the first place. It can be a same-day fix, or it can take several days. Let’s discover why a head gasket blows first.
What Causes A Head Gasket To Blow?
A head gasket will work well over 100,000 miles usually. But if your head gasket fails before that, the following factors could be a reason.
Overheating
When the engine overheats, it forces the gasket to handle extra heat than on regular days. It can result in a perforation in the gasket. Your cylinder or engine block will face a crack, and there goes your head gasket.
Pre Ignition
It can cause high pressure in your car’s cylinder chambers or valves. The combustion process will occur before its proper time, leading to a blown head gasket.
Let’s move on to the main question – how long does it take to replace a head gasket?
The correct answer to this question is that – it varies. Your car model and the severity of the gasket breach are essential factors determining its replacement time. Most mechanics take almost 6 hours to replace a head gasket.
However, detecting the blown gasket soon can help your mechanic cover the damage quickly. Even after replacing your head gasket, more is needed. You will have to change your cylinder by removing the previous one and cleaning its place. Other necessities your mechanic will need are changing your oil and coolant.
Repair Cost Of A Blown Head Gasket
Blown head gasket repairs are pretty expensive. The central part of your repair bill is the cost of labor. Generally, a mechanic will have to spend more than six hours on your repair. Let’s describe some factors behind the heavy maintenance costs of your gasket.
Cost Of Parts
The parts used in a gasket repair range from $8 to $400. These parts are available in different materials and with different ratings. For example, if you buy the cheapest stakes, its material will be mainly Teflon or fiberglass. However, if you choose a high-end product, it will be made of steel and hit your wallet.
Apart from this, the brand also matters. For example, if you choose an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) part, the likely cost is $200 – $400. An aftermarket head gasket repair costs from $50 to $100. And if you opt for a universal gasket, you can save a fortune at less than $50.
Cost of Labor
Replacing the head gasket cost also depends on the labor costs. For example, if you take your car to a mechanic’s shop, you must consider the costs incurred.
- Hourly rate – On average, you will have to pay $90 to $120 per hour.
- Shop fee – you will have to pay 5-10% of the total cost as a shop fee.
- Garage fee – Keeping your vehicle in the garage will cost you $15 to $100 daily.
- Machining fee – The mechanic must use his machines to resurface the parts. It can cost you about $50 to $300 in total.
For example, if you leave your car for 3 days in the mechanic’s shop and the mechanic is charging $94.99 per hour and a 20% shop fee, you will have to clear a bill of about $1318.80 ($854.91 for labor + $170 for machining + $75 for lot fee + shop fee $219.80).
How to Fix a Blown Head Gasket Yourself?
You can fix blown head gaskets without taking your car to a mechanic. Here is how you can do so;
Check Out Fixing a Blown Head Gasket ~ The Right Way:
Collect Tools
To fix a blown head gasket by yourself is to ensure you have time to do it. Collect your needed parts before you open up your car.
Tools you need
- Ratchets
- Gasket (meant for replacement)
- Spark plugs
- Brushes and brake cleaners
- Gloves
- Screwdriver
- Scraping tool
Remove-Clean the Valve
Remove the valve cover with the help of a ratchet. Most of the cars have 10mm bolts. After this, pry the valve with a crowbar or screwdriver. You will need to clean it later, so put it aside.
Separate Gasket
Take the gasket off. In case it has melted, you will need to clean it. Usually, gaskets that are made of rubber and silicon are more vulnerable to melting. You need to separate the O-rings from the gasket and scrape it with a scraping tool.
Remove Spark Plugs
You have to double-check the seals. Remove the spark plugs and clean them if they have also melted. Spark plugs will screw themselves out quickly but if it doesn’t happen, use a screwdriver.
Drain Oil from the Cylinders
Check your engine to see if there is any additional damage. Then move forward to emptying the oil. Use a small hand pump or a turkey baster for this purpose. Then move forward to the cylinders.
Clean The Cylinders
Check thoroughly if your cylinders need cleaning too. Use a brake cleaner for this purpose. Please don’t use metal or direct washing as it can damage the cylinders. To clean the cylinder later, make use of a disposable cloth.
Place New Gasket
Place your new gasket in its place. If it doesn’t fit, use a scraping tool to model its head. As a final step, clean every part you have taken out, i.e., spark plugs, valves, etc. And place everything back in the car.
FAQs
What Are the First Signs of a Blown Head Gasket?
Overheating and White smoke from the exhaust pipe are the first most signs of a blown head gasket. To diagnose a blown head gasket, check the oil. If it has turned milky and foamy, your head gasket is undoubtedly blown. It could be an engine knock if you hear a rough sound when starting your car. It can also depict the failure of a head gasket.
Why Is My Car Blowing Smoke but It’s Not Overheating?
It is a possibility that any fluid has entered the engine. This fluid can be a coolant, motor oil, or diesel. That’s because somewhere in the car, a seal has been broken. This specific fluid burns in the engine’s combustion chamber, resulting in smoke. A blown head gasket is the main reason behind it.
Do Head Gaskets Fail Suddenly?
Yes, head gaskets can fail suddenly because of abrupt temperature changes. For instance, if you are in a hurry and start your engine cold, press acceleration immediately; it will cause your head gasket to fail without any other notice. To avoid this, it is suggested to give your car the proper heat-up time.
Can You Drive a Car With Blown Head Gasket?
Yes, you can drive your car even after failing your head gasket. But it is not a good idea. Ignoring the symptoms of a blown head gasket and not fixing it on time will lead your car to extra damage. There is a possibility that your car’s engine will fail permanently.
Are Cars Fine After Head Gasket Replacement?
Most vehicles are good to go after a head gasket replacement cost. But your car can face issues like overheating even after the replacement. It can be because your mechanic needs to do his job properly, and the head gasket repair process must be carried out correctly.
Final Considerations
A head gasket is essential to your car’s operations. It seals the car fluids in their places and stops them from mixing. If you face a blown head gasket, we recommend you take your car to a mechanic. Although it is expensive to replace a gasket, ignoring it will cost extra damage to your car. However, you can also try fixing it with the help of our guide mentioned in this article.
