How much labour is there in replacing a head gasket? I have an oil leak and I think its coming from the head gasket. Thanks. Oh yeah, also, if my engine was smoking, could that be from the head gasket? It is smoking just a little bit. Thanks again.

 

I'm not too good to calculate labour cost, but the job itself requires the mechanic to remove the intake and exhaust manifold, timing belt, drain the coolant, remove the camshafts (if a B-series engine).... Basically it's a lot of work. Make 100% sure the leak is caused by the head gasket before you pay someone to change it. 2-3 hours maybe? Someone tell me if I'm off. Took me much longer, but it was my first time.

By the way, what color is the smoke?

 

smoke is white

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by deSigi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> 2-3 hours maybe? Someone tell me if I'm off. </TD></TR></TABLE>
We charge 6-8 hours labor depending on which engine.

 

its a b16, the 6 - 8 hrs, is that standard? thanks

 

its going to be about 700-800bucks outside i believe. if you do it yourself parts are around 50-60.

 

so i guess if there is an oil leak on the left side of the head gasket, i have to change the head gasket, right? there is no other way of fixing this? thanks.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Autobot_Killer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">so i guess if there is an oil leak on the left side of the head gasket, i have to change the head gasket, right? there is no other way of fixing this? thanks.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Make sure it's the headgasket, if your not sure.

 

it coulbe the valve cover gasket if it is then it should be real easy to do get a mechanc to check ti for free. does the car lose radiator fluid? check the oil and and the radiator fluid see if its discolored. check your plugs i believe you check for specks on it and if you can throw it on a smog machine if it has high hc then its most likely your head gasket.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by zad5 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> you can throw it on a smog machine if it has high hc then its most likely your head gasket.</TD></TR></TABLE>
How do you figure that???

 

its the valve cover gasket, how much do those cost? should i get the set? not alot of labour on them, right? also, i have to do my oil pan gasket!!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Chiovnidca &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
How do you figure that??? </TD></TR></TABLE>

an expereince mechanic told me that but i mean you should check many things out just to make sure its a head gasket. try it if you dont believe me i did it yetserday on a car that had a blown head gasket his hc was hella high a civic ex eg with 300+hc on idle

valve cover gasket 15-20bucks very easy to do.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by zad5 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

i did it yetserday on a car that had a blown head gasket his hc was hella high a civic ex eg with 300+hc on idle

</TD></TR></TABLE>
Couldn't be anything else huh?

 

lol..that doesnt sound like a precise way of checking the condition of a head gasket to me..to the thread starter if i was you i would double check on where your leak is,try to pinpoint where its coming from then do what you gotta do...good luck

 

we checked it out, it seems like the valve cover gasket, cause my car is running fine, so it shouldnt be the head gasket