sharpy2010

iTrader: (1)

Hey all!

Just had the cambelt done on the STI Blob 05, and just to ruin my day after handing over all that money, apparently the head gasket is showing signs of leaking.

Is there anything I can buy to at least arrest the flow of head gasket failure? Having just parted with £750 (which included a radiator as well), I don't particularly feel like spending another £1500 for the head gasket to be done

Any temporary solutions?!

Cheers!
Chris

Busterbulldog

iTrader: (1)

your likely to do more damage using it I would say

Blue by You

iTrader: (23)

Sorry I can't offer any advice with the H/Gs, but it looks to me like you've been had over with the timing belt.
It's a while since I had my belt changed, but it was way less than £750 even if you allow £200 for a rad!

sharpy2010

iTrader: (1)

Well the breakdown works like this... £280 for the timing belt and kit, and £270 for fitting it. Does that sound excessive then?

I've just read about Steel Seal, and am really tempted to give it a go.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Subaru-Ste...item3a79751173

wr pete

iTrader: (1)

So would I

Your best bet is to have it done, if it is the gasket no short cuts really mate.
What signs is it showing ?

Blue by You

iTrader: (23)

Don't mean to hijack your thread mate. I just had a look through the receipts, and mine belt was £455 including the tensioner kit, a service, MoT, and VAT.
And it was done by a top scooby specialist.
£750 just seems a lot even with a new radiator.

I would suggest you get another quote for the gaskets.

sharpy2010

iTrader: (1)

Well thats the thing, as far as I'm concerned, it isn't showing any signs at all! Its not overheating, neither is there oil in the water, or water in the oil. It doesn't idle rough, and it drives fine. There is a slight smell of coolant in the cabin with the heater on, but that was due I think to the leaking radiator, rather than the head gasket.

But, when I asked the bloke if he could do the gaskets, he said "Get Christmas out of the way first". So he didn't seem like he desperately wanted the extra work, therefore why bother making it up if it isn't true?

sharpy2010

iTrader: (1)

Appreciate you taking the time to check your receipts Ah well its done now, so I'm not worried about what I've already spent, I can't do anything about that. But, I can do something about what I spend in the future

I'll certainly get more than one quote for work of that kind of value, I just wish I could do it myself ;-) The parts are way less than £100, its all labour!

Blue by You

iTrader: (23)

Yes head gaskets are not a cheap thing to fix, but with a response like you have had to the offer of work, you defo need a second opinion before parting with any more money in that direction.

sharpy2010

iTrader: (1)

I also wish I knew what head gaskets actually were, rather than just being in fear of them. And also, if they're prone to failure on all cars, why don't the manufacturers make them easy to get to and replace, if they can't design them out altogether?!

Blue by You

iTrader: (23)

Head Gasket...........
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_gasket

Busterbulldog

iTrader: (1)

if he diagnosed a head gasket fault he should be able to tell you how he came to this conclusion..

sharpy2010

iTrader: (1)

Yes, I wish I'd asked at the time. I'll be seeing him on a social basis soon, so I'll ask and see what he says, and report back :-)

sharpy2010

iTrader: (1)

Cheers! That doesn't look like something I'd be able to fix without tools. Or, in fact, at all!

Busterbulldog

iTrader: (1)

snakeoil

wr pete

iTrader: (1)

Get a second opinion mate before you worry about it, a good mechanic would of advised you not to drive it if he thought the gasket was gone.

Blue by You

iTrader: (23)

That looks like wonderful stuff.
Do they have a box of perpetual motion in the range too?

Busterbulldog

iTrader: (1)

just tip the fabulous stuff in yr radiator and off it goes like magic and repairs your engine....also available in their range...temporary piston rings....shattered windscreen glue.....magic wipes panel repair....wrap yr rust exhaust tape etc

Blue by You

iTrader: (23)

Now you're just being silly

The Pink Ninja

iTrader: (23)

I`d be asking him this too, Surely if it is showing sings of leaking it`s not on its way out its already failed or gone?

Not sure how you can tell by looking if its on its way out personally?

sharpy2010

iTrader: (1)

Its a really strange one. Its showing no signs of it at all (but I'm not a mechanic, maybe I'd miss some?), but he was adamant its going. He reckons theres about six months left in it. How also would he know that? Thing is, I don't doubt his mechanical ability, he's very good, but this just seems strange.

He also isn't desperate to be given the work, which if he was making it up, surely he would be.

Im half tempted to think perhaps it isn't on its way out at all and he's just winding me up!

P.S. The engine is only at 47k miles, is it usual for a head gasket to give up at this early stage?

Busterbulldog

iTrader: (1)

have you overheated it?

Busterbulldog

iTrader: (1)

I wouldnt pour that stuff down my sink never mind in my radiator

dj219957

if its not overheated and its holding its water forget about it. bubbles in the overflow are not always conclusive either. ive had them for 4 years.

Blue by You

iTrader: (23)

Run away and find someone better suited for the job.
This chap is not only good, he's a bloody fortune teller as well by the sound of it.

sharpy2010

iTrader: (1)

Well, it WAS losing water, but thats why the radiator was replaced. I'm hoping (obviously!) that that is the end of the water loss.

Its never showed signs of overheating, but other than the dashboard temperature guage I've no real way of knowing.

I'll just have to keep an eye on the coolant level and we'll see what happens.

Because I'm not mechanically minded, I had no way of knowing that until you actually test the head gasket, you can't confirm whether its going or not. I assumed it was something you could tell just by looking at something in the engine, but it seems this isn't the case at all.

Perhaps he's a charlatan trying it on! I'll certainly ask him what made him come to this conclusion, when I see him Sunday!

sonic93

iTrader: (16)

Well firstly he over charged u mate . Plus it sounds like he chatting **** .

Is any one local to do a leak test ?

sharpy2010

iTrader: (1)

I wouldnt have a clue about a leak test... I'll have to find out. I'll ask him if he was winding me up on Sunday when I see him, and if not I'll get the leak test done. By someone else!

bikesforme

I had a mg160 zr a little while back which are prone to head gasket problems.Shortly buying it the headgasket was starting to go, someone told me of a product that you just pour in your rad and it seals it.
I can not remember what it was called but it costs around £30 and comes with a money back back up. It did its job for me.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Whereabouts in South Wales?

Ian Godney might know of a reliable place to do a sniff test.

Ian's in Bridgend.