Thread: Head gasket Newcastle

It is probable that the head itself will require replacement (assuming it has been overheated).

An alternative that many here do is DIY - quite straightforward assuming some mechanical nouse and tools amongst you or your friends - scrupulous cleanliness is required before reassembly. Plenty of instructional threads on this site if you care to search

The price quoted is for a workshop with a good reputation that I assume will guarantee their work.

If cost is an issue DIY (with no guarantee) will reduce that by at least 2/3rds, maybe more.

Google Turner Engineering in the UK, they will deliver all the parts (including a new assembled head) in 3-4 working days to Oz. Total cost was last year was less thhan $AUD1,000 but the slide in the dollar may have cured that.

Parts only will cost around $1200 for everything that needs to be replaced after a head failure- complete head, gaskets, head bolts, t/stat, coolant hoses, coolant, oil,filter.
Shouldnt be any more than 8hrs labour to replace.
Look on ebay for seller autopost, complete head replacement kit for AUD$947 delivered less hoses/thermostat which you will get locally.
At 158K it still has a long life left so do it properly and you wont have any troubles for years.

I haven't used them for any work but I do get parts from them time to time and the folks in Parts there have always been helpful. Checking their website it is $1250 for a 300tdi head & install kit - head gasket extra depending upon thickness. Add to that the cost of a new oem (Airtex) water pump ($80), p-gasket, coolant, oil, filter, rocker cover gasket you're probably at approx $1500-$1600 for parts that you know of. Add labour on top of that to remove, clean, install, flushing radiator, oil change then it will add up. Depending upon their hourly rate it wouldn't take much to get $1500 in labour. So it is starting to get towards the $4K mark. A concern I'd have is something has caused the head gasket to fail so they'll look for the cause and this may add to the $4K cost - eg, replacement radiator. (BTW - was there any water in the oil?)

If it was me I'd consider doing it myself and pocket the savings for other costs. Get the Rave manual and study up on it and use the forum. You can shop around for parts to get the price down a bit but use quality parts. Down side is there is no guarantee doing it yourself.

Then I'd recommend your son invests in an Engine Saver (available in the Shop link on the forum) - a cheap form of insurance to avoid these types of problems in future.

On the plus side the car has a low number of kms and if looked after it will certainly last a good number of years.

Mike

Hi All,

Firstly, thank you all for your advice re this. I think my son would like to have a go at fixing it himself - with the help of a diesel fitter he works with in defence! Unfortunately, he is down in Sale training for the next 16 weeks so can't really do this himself. I wanted to make sure the figure given by the garage of $4,000 was a reasonable estimate. I haven't seen the car but it is evidently straight has a good service history so could well be worth fixing instead of junking. My sister has one that is the same model and after doing the gasket at 230k is still going strong well over 300k. I've suggested they do the timing belt at the same time - would that be right?

Again many thanks

Hi, (again)

For interest sake the car showed no sign of gasket failure apart from a knocking sound and escaping air from rear of engine that you could feel. No water in oil, cream in the oil filler, overheating, pumping fluid out the overflow, missing etc. Probably why my son thought it was something else on the day he bought it!!