How Much Does It Cost to Fix a Blown Head Gasket?
Head gasket on block by Collard —CC BY-SA 3.0
If you know little to nothing about cars, “blown head gasket” sounds expensive. Actually, it isn’t as expensive as it sounds and, luckily, it’s not the parts that are expensive.
If you have to replace a gasket and are wondering how much does it cost to fix a blown head gasket, we’re here with a look at the average cost. However, before we get to a breakdown of the cost, let’s look at the head gasket.
What Is a Head Gasket?
The head gasket in your car is there as a seal that tops the engine block and cylinder head. It works to keep coolant and oil in the right place and ensures that it is passing from one place to another correctly.
In addition, it also helps to regulate pressures that are passing from spark plugs, keeping them from escaping and helping to power the engine. Without the regulations of the head gasket, your car would be in bad shape, and the engine would undergo severe damage.
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Types of Gasket Heads
You won’t find too many gaskets with a price over $350. The price depends on the material, of which you have a few common types that gasket heads are made of. Typical materials include:
- Graphite
- Composite
- Rubber
- Cork
- Copper
Graphite is the most affordable; however, it’s not the best at preventing burnout. It seals well but is nothing compared to rubber gasket heads, which are the newest trend.
Among the list, it’s copper-made gasket heads that have the highest quality, though they come with a higher price tag. It’s not a high price to pay for a quality item that often won’t go out on you.
Signs you Need to Look For
If you suspect that issues with your vehicle are due to a blown head gasket, there are a few tell-tale signs that you can look for. The most obvious appears when you have a complete loss of power. In addition, you may experience one or more of the following issues:
- Overheating: When a head gasket is blown, the engine can overheat. This is because the gasket is no longer effective in sealing the engine’s combustion process.
- Leaking coolant or coolant passing into combustion chambers: The gasket serves as a seal between the engine block and the cylinder head. When it’s damaged, coolant can leak out of the engine or even pass into the combustion chambers, which can cause significant engine damage.
- The appearance of smoke: This is often due to coolant leaking into the combustion chamber and being burned along with the fuel. The smoke is usually white and may have a sweet smell.
- Spark plug issues: Coolant or oil that has leaked into the combustion chamber can foul the spark plugs, causing misfires and poor engine performance.
- Bubbling liquid in the radiator: A blown head gasket may cause combustion gasses to escape into the cooling system and cause the coolant to bubble.
- Motor oil that appears white and milky: When a head gasket is blown, coolant can mix with the engine oil. This causes the oil to become white and milky in appearance. This is a serious issue as it can lead to engine damage if not addressed promptly.
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Preventing High Gasket Repair Costs
Once you see how much does it cost to fix a blown head gasket, you might start the hunt for alternative means of repair. Like many other car issues, your car gasket is much less costly if you catch it and repair it early. The longer you wait until you start to repair, the more you’ll pay, with costs going up into the four digits if you’re not careful. To prevent high repair costs for a blown head gasket, always look for the following.
1. Coolant levels
One of the main side effects of a blown head gasket is coolant entering into places that it shouldn’t. When coolant starts to leak and makes its way onto your sidewalk, you can see it. However, if it starts to escape into other internal parts of your car, it’s a little more challenging to spot. If you begin to see smoke or notice that your engine starts to overheat, it might be your gasket head.
2. Engine Failure
There are many potential reasons why your car doesn’t start due to engine failure. If there is a delay in starting your engine and getting moving or a bit of lag time between ignition switches, you might have an issue with your gasket head. However, if you have a blown gasket head, it’s likely due to problems with spark plugs.
3. Smoke from Exhaust
As we mentioned above, issues with your gasket head cause overheating. This overheating comes from the misplacement of coolant. When coolant starts to make its way into the engine shaft, it can come out in the form of smoke from the exhaust. If you notice smoke coming from your exhaust pipe, it could be your gasket head.
Testing for Gasket Head Issues
Before taking it in to get looked at, you can also do a little self-test at home. If you suspect that a faulty gasket head is a reason behind your vehicle’s behavior, you can:
- Remove the oil cap
- Check your fluid
- Look for bubbles in your radiator
If you see any of the above, you have reason to suspect your car’s behavior is due to a blown gasket head and can then take measures to repair it. How much does it cost to fix a blown head gasket exactly? Let’s find out.
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How Much Does It Cost to Fix a Blown Head Gasket?
So, how much does it cost to fix a blown head gasket? Well, that just depends. There are costs associated with many things, including other issues caused by blown head gaskets that haven’t been repaired.
On average, a blown head gasket can come with anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000. It is something that you’ll have to seek professional help for, which is why it’s so expensive.
They are not that much when you purchase the parts to repair or replace your gasket head. The part that costs a lot is the labor hours required to get things back in order. It can take a lot longer than you might imagine, mainly because replacing them involves the removal of the entire engine head.
That could take several hours or a few weeks to repair, costing you for each hour your car is in the hands of professionals.
Pay Attention to Your Car
When you suspect that something is wrong with your car, you should first start to observe. Then, don’t wait too long to seek help. There are ways that you can test to narrow down the issue, learning if it’s a gasket head issue or something else that requires less professional help.
A blown head gasket is a mechanical issue that you’ll want to address as soon as possible. We’re talking about spending a few dollars now rather than hundreds of dollars later. Although the head gasket replacement itself isn’t that expensive, the bulk of the repair cost comes from labor, which can be very expensive – this is especially true for modern cars.
One of the most common causes of a blown head gasket is overheating or if you keep driving as the car overheats. Therefore, one of the best ways to prevent a blown head gasket is to ensure your cooling system is always in good shape. If your car begins to overheat, stop and let it cool down for an hour; then, you can refill the radiator and resume driving.
If you suspect a blown head gasket, the best way to make sure is to check for combustion gasses in the cooling system. This test will determine if the compression has leaked into the cooling system, which may signify a blown head gasket. Remember the old mechanic’s tip of taking off the radiator cup (make sure the system is cool) and looking for bubbles within the coolant.
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