Headgasket failure

[Longusta]

Hi all following on from my last post (tiny metal flakes in coolant), I took my bongo up to discount trucks and they did a head gasket it test for me which as indicated by the title didn't have a good outcome. My questions are:

Is it a hard/fiddly DIY job? I'm a heating engineer by trade so used to stripping things down and repairing/replacing but haven't done a great deal of work on cars.

If doing DIY what parts will I need/should I replace?

How much roughly does a garage charge to fix? I was quoted £1000 for head gasket, £1500 new head

Is it worth just putting a new head on it while its all apart

[Longusta]

Thanks in advance.

[M 80NGO]

Sorry to hear of your h/g woes, £1500 sounds about right for a strip and rebuild inc new head and it is recomended that a new head is fitted as they generally crack the head when they overheat, how long have you had the van and where did you get it from ?

[Longusta]

Ive Only had it a week and a half, to be honest I did take a gamble on it as the previous owner said there was a 50/50 chance that it may need a head gasket. But I did get it for a bargain price so can't complain to much. Is ok still to drive it like it or is it an urgent job?

[mikeWalsall]

If you intend to get a 'propa' job done sooner than later .. ie; head .. gaskets ..thermostat ..radiator etc: .. then maybe some 'Steel seal' or 'Kseal' will help in the short term by 'maybe' acting as an internal sealant ..??

[dobby]

Sit and evaluate your long term plans for the bongo i.e. is it an old potterton with a weep on the heat exchanger or a nice new Worcester Combi that you need.

Once you have decided what to do either throw some money at it via bongo friendly dealer and enjoy many years of hassle free driving (hopefully)! or go down the steel seal route and keep your fingers crossed.

Ps £1500 is quite right for new head, rad, hoses, pump etc.

[Longusta]

I definitely want it sorted properly (like a nice new worcester). Only had it just over a week and want to keep it for many years yet. Think it's already got k seal in the coolant system as has the tiny copper flakes in it.

[Bob]

I'm afraid it looks like 'Bite The Bullet'.

Discount Trucks know their stuff and will do you OK.

I fancy time you source all the bits and find your way round the job you will be better off doing what you do and paying an expert. That way you'll have peace of mind and a warranty.

Good luck.

[Simon Jones]

Personally, if it were me, I would rather spend £1250 on a reconditioned engine fully fitted with 6 months warranty:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mazda-Bongo-9 ... 1594wt_922

The trouble with fitting a new head to a engine that has no service history is that you have no idea what other trouble may lurk in the bottom end. There are also potential problems when fitting a flat new head to a block which may not be perfectly flat, especially if it's possibly been running a bit hot. Plus, it's had substances (unknown) put in the cooling system and for all you know some of the water ways in the jacket around the cylinders could be clogged up with all sorts of rubbish.

[mikeonb4c]

Personally, if it were me, I would rather spend £1250 on a reconditioned engine fully fitted with 6 months warranty:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mazda-Bongo-9 ... 1594wt_922

The trouble with fitting a new head to a engine that has no service history is that you have no idea what other trouble may lurk in the bottom end. There are also potential problems when fitting a flat new head to a block which may not be perfectly flat, especially if it's possibly been running a bit hot. Plus, it's had substances (unknown) put in the cooling system and for all you know some of the water ways in the jacket around the cylinders could be clogged up with all sorts of rubbish.

I agree x 100.

[mikeWalsall]

Fully reconditioned .. with what ??

I would think it nigh on imposable to do ..all.. the work listed, with quality machining / parts, plus remove and replace the engine for that price ...

[Simon Jones]

Shop around to find a supplier who is a member of Federation of Engine Re-Manufacturers which will provide assurance that you will be getting a proper rebuild rather than an engine which has just been jet washed & stuck straight in your van:

http://www.fer.co.uk/

[francophile1947]

Personally, if it were me, I would rather spend £1250 on a reconditioned engine fully fitted with 6 months warranty:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mazda-Bongo-9 ... 1594wt_922

The trouble with fitting a new head to a engine that has no service history is that you have no idea what other trouble may lurk in the bottom end. There are also potential problems when fitting a flat new head to a block which may not be perfectly flat, especially if it's possibly been running a bit hot. Plus, it's had substances (unknown) put in the cooling system and for all you know some of the water ways in the jacket around the cylinders could be clogged up with all sorts of rubbish.

Advert says "PRICE IS BASED ON SERVICEABLE EXCHANGE UNIT" - does a knackered head count as serviceable, or will it cost a lot more than that?

[Simon Jones]

Does depend on the definition of 'serviceable', but as it still seems to be driveable, you might expect that to be ok. At the end of the day, you're not going to fit a replacement engine unless there was something faulty with the current one .

[helen&tony]

Hi
It most definitely means that it will cost more, as they say in the text that the head will be reconditioned, therefore a damaged head means either that the "engine" is not serviceable, or that it will attract a surcharge.
In the case of a Bongo, I would definitely want a new head, and I wouldn't go for an engine reconditioning firm . Personally, I'd find a specialist engineer , and specify the work needed, with advice from the engineer, of course. I really don't see a reconditioned "half motor" plus a new head being that cheap...2 or 3 grand is more like a reasonable bill, and I would expect that a reasonable engineer would want to fit the unit, or how else could he guarantee his work! so there will be installation charges on top....one big advantage will be that the work will have a GOOD guarantee!!!....some idiot could assemble the last few important bits wrongly and stuff a perfectly good rebuild if the client did the fitup!!!!!!!
Cheers
Helen