Goodie_06
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Registered: 14th Aug 06
Location: Bar Hill, Cambridgeshire
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My head gasket is going, i can get it changed as a mate is a mechanic, but is it wise to take it to a garage to see if the head is warped?? The head was skimmed @ 56,000 miles and is now at 92,000. Any help is much apreciated 
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jamesvalver
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Registered: 21st Feb 03
Location: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
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it depends how much the head was skimmed last time. get it checked to see if its warped, n if it is, hope that there is still enough meat left on the head to be skimmed before the valves and pistons meet
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Colin
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Registered: 4th Apr 02
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check it yourself with a metal ruler.
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Goodie_06
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Registered: 14th Aug 06
Location: Bar Hill, Cambridgeshire
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quote:
Originally posted by jamesvalver
it depends how much the head was skimmed last time. get it checked to see if its warped, n if it is, hope that there is still enough meat left on the head to be skimmed before the valves and pistons meet
If the head is warped and it needs to be skimmed, what sort of price am i looking at?? and if it cant be skimmed will i need a new head??
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Colin
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Registered: 4th Apr 02
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what engine??
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Goodie_06
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Registered: 14th Aug 06
Location: Bar Hill, Cambridgeshire
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X14XE
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Butler
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Registered: 2nd Jun 05
Location: London
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From now on im always getting the head skimmed, mine didnt look warped when I did it but turned out to be. Better to be safe than sorry, only around 40 bucks.
[Edited on 23-03-2007 by Butler]
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Scotty C
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Registered: 6th Nov 05
Location: Kidderminster Drives: 1.6 16v Sport
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Get it skimmed.
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Colin
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Registered: 4th Apr 02
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usually when you look at the bottom of the head face there is a cast mark in the alloy, the depth of the mark is usually the max amount you can take off, not sure if that same on a vaux though. Maybe best to take it to a engineering firm & ask them if they'll check it to see if it's warped or not. & if it is get it skimmed there while you're at it.
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Goodie_06
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Registered: 14th Aug 06
Location: Bar Hill, Cambridgeshire
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will skimming the head be a lot of work?? ie lots of labour??
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Butler
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Registered: 2nd Jun 05
Location: London
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I took 22 thou off mine which was quite alot. Was surprised how bad it was. Take it to a garage they will advise you, as I say only about £40 or so.
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Colin
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Registered: 4th Apr 02
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Have you boiled the engine?? i.e. ran it at with the temp gauge reating off the scale?? If not it might be ok , but you'll be best to get it checked.....before lumping it on with a new gasket cos it will just go again in no time!!
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Colin
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Registered: 4th Apr 02
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quote:
Originally posted by Butler
I took 22 thou off mine which was quite alot. Was surprised how bad it was. Take it to a garage they will advise you, as I say only about £40 or so.
Ive just removed one from mine thats got a big chunk out of it, good for the bin lucky ive got a spare to go on.
[Edited on 23-03-2007 by Colin]
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Goodie_06
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Registered: 14th Aug 06
Location: Bar Hill, Cambridgeshire
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well on a few occasions it has gone up to 100c poped the bonnet and there has been no water in it.
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Colin
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Registered: 4th Apr 02
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quote:
Originally posted by Goodie_06
well on a few occasions it has gone up to 100c poped the bonnet and there has been no water in it.
Get it checked then!! 100c+ is murder for an alu head!!
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Goodie_06
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Registered: 14th Aug 06
Location: Bar Hill, Cambridgeshire
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Okies, if i get the head skimmed and leave the orignal gasket on when its been skimmed for the journey home and then do the gasket should this be ok??
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Colin
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Registered: 4th Apr 02
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no no no, remove the head, strip the manifolds & cams etc off, take it up with just the valve on it at the very most, get checked & skimmed then take home & refit with a new gasket & new head bolts.
You cannot reuse a gasket!!
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Goodie_06
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Registered: 14th Aug 06
Location: Bar Hill, Cambridgeshire
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so if i did the head gasket first and the got the head skimmed?? or what if i just got a garage to do the lot?? would i be looking at a lot there??
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Colin
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Registered: 4th Apr 02
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gasket goes on afet the heads been checked out & skimmed.
Getting a garage to do the lot your looking at about £500/600!!
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Goodie_06
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Registered: 14th Aug 06
Location: Bar Hill, Cambridgeshire
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 ouch, how would i get the car home if i got the head skimmed with out doing the head gasket?
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Colin
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Registered: 4th Apr 02
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you just take the cylinder head to the machine wworkshop...not the car.
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Goodie_06
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Registered: 14th Aug 06
Location: Bar Hill, Cambridgeshire
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oooooooo i see, stupid ass. i have no idea of how to do that so il get a mate to do it. also i think when iv lost my water i think iv lost all my coolant and anti freeze stuff. will i have to empty the system and start from fresh??
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bigdan
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Registered: 4th Jan 07
Location: Jarrow (Newcastle)
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i thought the head had gone on mine so i got a qoute of 92 pound all in wasnt bad i suppose
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Colin
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Registered: 4th Apr 02
User status: Offline
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Get your mate to remove the head from the block, then take it to your nearest motor engineering place. They will check it & do the required work (with the mileage on your engine it might be worthwhile to do valve oil seals or guides aswell they will tell you) then take ot back to your mate & get him to refit with a new gasket.
Coolant - just top it up. check for any air locks while doing so.
You'll need oil & filter doing aswell at same time.
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Colin
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Registered: 4th Apr 02
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by bigdan
i thought the head had gone on mine so i got a qoute of 92 pound all in wasnt bad i suppose
to do what???
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