How much for a head gasket???

Norma_Desmond

Our dear old J Reg. Rover has never given us a moment's trouble in the 4 years we've had it.......but I suppose all good things come to an end! Thing is, it's been overheating and guzzling water lately and is now in the local garage for surgery. Chap said the radiator is fine and that it's likely to be the head gasket which he has quoted us just over £200 to replace. We're willing to have this done as we only spent £650 on the car al those years ago and we've got a soft spot for it! Any more expense tho' and we'll have to scrap poor old Rover. Are we doing the right thing, and does £200 sound reasonable for this head gasket thing? Opinions welcomed folks!

jjames_3

£200 is actually fairly cheap for this job, £300 is typical.

It unfortunately happens to most Rovers in the end, ask your mechanic if it is worth doing (has the head been skimmed before, if it has I wouldn't bother with it).

Rovers are good cars (good solid Honda engineering) but this is a fatal failing in them.

Norma_Desmond

Thanks jjames - no I don't think the head as been skimmed before, so fingers crossed! We know our mechanic isn't a rip-off merchant, so we're going with his suggestions. Great little car tho' and I hope this isn't the end of it!

blue_haddock

To be honest this sounds cheap for what the job entails you will probably not just need a head gasket but a full head set along with a new set of stretch bolts plus i would definately have the head skimmed, plus on top there is the labour to be charged.

At £200 i think they are just changing the head gasket which as a result will probably go again not long afterwards - i would check what they are going to do for their £200.

tiger

i think you can buy another rover with that money

Dave_G_5

Sounds like a good price, and not all Rover's blow their head gaskets, just mainly those fitted with the K series engine. On a J reg you might have the Honda engine which is a very good unit.

Norma_Desmond

Yep - it's the Honda engine Dave G. Rover is in surgery as we speak and we should get him back on Friday........I just hope he lives!

jjames_3

Dave_G wrote:

Sounds like a good price, and not all Rover's blow their head gaskets, just mainly those fitted with the K series engine. On a J reg you might have the Honda engine which is a very good unit.

That's why I said most and not all

Anyway, if it's the Honda engine then this is probably just wear and old age that has caused the HG to fail, as opposed to any inherent design defect. So it's probably worth doing (the Rover 200/400 with the Honda engine pretty much *is* a Honda Civic/Concerto, just built in a different factory).

As blue_haddock says though make sure you know what the mechanic is going to do first.

soolin

The head gasket went on my 5 year old Fiat Punto (38,000 miles on clock) and the Fiat garage charged me Around £520 to replace it.

Soo

scheming_gypsy

i was quoted £600 for my Golf VR6... luckily he was lying

ffs

Head gaskets fail if the coolant isn't changed regularly. It is the corrosion inhibitors in anti freeze that protect the head gasket, and these inhibitors generally start to fade after two years. £200 to change a head gasket sounds particularly good value. Of course you could do it yourself, the gasket would probably only cost a tenner (although you would have to budget for a few tools and manuals).