Head gasket replacement - how long should it last?

JayMT

I had a head gasket blow on my Renault in Feb 07, and I've done about 18,000 miles since.

It looks likely it's blown again. I would think the replacement should have lasted much longer than that?

TIA

hewhoisnotintheknow

did you fix the cause or just the head gasket?

steveo3002

when fixed properly id expect to last the life of the car or at least a lot longer than 18k

anewman

Yep a variety of things can help kill the headgasket. Often the cooling system - so things like type of coolant and mix ratio with water, thermostat, water pump, coolant hoses, radiator. sensors, fan switch etc.

Also, when the headgasket is changed it's usually best to have the head surface skimmed and new bolts.

JayMT

Thanks for your responses, it was fixed by my garage so I would hope they would also look in to any possible causes at the same time. I don't know if they skimmed the head surface also.

The water pump was replaced by them a few months earlier. There haven't been any other problems with the cooling system since.

I have a good relationship with this garage, so I'm wondering how best to approach them with this. I'll have to dig out the paperwork, but I doubt very much if the work would be covered by any guarantee after this time.

big_gay_kirk

couldn't say for a modern car.. but the one on my 25 year old cortina lasted 22 years and 156,000 miles.. then we took the head off to do some stuff, and put a new one on....

Conor_3

TBH, after a year and a half, you're going to have a hard time getting anything out of them.

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

My headgasket is still going strong after 11 years and 218,000 miles.

cyclonebri1

To be honest you have no comeback after this time. You should have an idea if the head was skimmed by the amount billed last time, if it wasn't skimmed it,s likely it should have been and will need doing now. To be honest that is the only issue you have with the garage, ie, They should have played safe and skimmed the head(if they didn't).

If it was skimmed last time and has gone again it would be unwise to skim it again.

Also it is a wise decision to use a genuine manufacturers part (gasket). The cost of the repair is mainly labour and a genuine gasket would only add say £10 or so to the bill. Some particular models are very prone to problems if a cheaper aftermarket gasket is used.;)

TiTheRev

If it was done at a dealership you'd have a 2year warrenty to claim against...? But as stated above, some aftermarket gaskets are mere cereal packets with holes cut out Rover 200/400 especially.

eira

Ho9w much do head gaskets cost to replace on average ?