Head Gasket costs?

**jmuggali** · Monday 30th January 2006, 11:42

I killed my 855 T5 (well I think my wife did!) All the oil has gone into the expansion tank, now the car doesn’t smoke or steam and there is hot air still coming from the heaters which is usually the other signs of a head gasket failure, so I was hoping that it could possibly be the oil cooler gone or similar? Anyway my wife takes the car to a local garage where she tells them that she thinks it was the head gasket, they have the car a whole hour before they phone back and say that it will be 650 for the work, does this sound right? I have just paid 450 for my corrado g60 by a VW specialist, to have the head done along with some other jobs; I didn’t think the head alone would be this much. Can any one recommend a Volvo specialist in the South Wales area and am I really looking at such a big bill? Thanks a thoroughly depressed James.

**mraldonnelly** · Monday 30th January 2006, 12:34

James,

Take it for a second opinion. You getting any water in the oil?

If only oil in the water then it could quite easily be radiotor. The oil cooler is part of the radiator and can fail thus pumping oil into the water.

I don't know what head jobs (!!!) cost but bear in mind that the gasket kits cost a fortune. Something like £150 to £200 for the gasket and all the bolts and stuff.

Good luck

Andy

**BlackBeast** · Monday 30th January 2006, 12:51

Take it down to Bridgend Volvo Specialists Ltd , Bridgend Industrial Estate , MID GLAMORGAN , CF31 3RX , 01656 769769

OR

Cardiff Volvo Specialists Ltd , Cardiff , SOUTH GLAMORGAN , CF10 4BG , 029 2025 1251

Ive no idea about the Cardiff Specialists but a few Welsh members have used the Bridgend one, see this link:-

http://www.volvot5.co.uk/forums/show...ghlight=change

Hope its of some use.

**jmuggali** · Monday 30th January 2006, 20:13

Thanks, I tried the one in Cardiff, as I work around the corner, but no one answers the phone

Got the car back tonight, it hasn't been run sice the start of December, when I checked the oil it had some white 'mayo' around the cap

I'll ask them to check the oil cooler first but it's starting to look like the local guy was right.

**Straker** · Monday 30th January 2006, 20:25

Mayo in the water tank doesn't sound good. 650 doesn't sound tooo bad but definately worth getting a few quotes. Alternatively you could do half the work yourslef and get a mobile mechanic to come round and put it all back together for you since that is the hard bit.....

**nobananas** · Monday 30th January 2006, 20:39

What you have to watch is the price of machining work as most garages farm it out to engineering shops. They should at least reface the head and at my place we always advise a pressure test which means a complete strip down of the head and rebuild. The head for my laguna was re-faced, pressure tested and the tappets re-shimmed (non-hydraulic) and the total bill just from our machine shop including a full headset and bolts was touching £600 !! (and it's only an 8 valve !) God only knows the total price if I was paying to have it fitted ! I would get a full breakdown of expected parts and labour in a written quote if I were you. Also remember a written quote has to be stuck to but an estimate doesn't so watch their wording and that VAT.

**jmuggali** · Monday 30th January 2006, 21:06

Originally Posted by nobananas

What you have to watch is the price of machining work as most garages farm it out to engineering shops. They should at least reface the head and at my place we always advise a pressure test which means a complete strip down of the head and rebuild. The head for my laguna was re-faced, pressure tested and the tappets re-shimmed (non-hydraulic) and the total bill just from our machine shop including a full headset and bolts was touching £600 !! (and it's only an 8 valve !) God only knows the total price if I was paying to have it fitted ! I would get a full breakdown of expected parts and labour in a written quote if I were you. Also remember a written quote has to be stuck to but an estimate doesn't so watch their wording and that VAT.

already got the vat bit, turns out it's 650 plus vat! will have to do some more shopping around thanks.

**mccannjg** · Monday 30th January 2006, 23:24

When the head went on mine i took it to Volvo paid a total of £1300, so £650 sounds like a bargain to me!

**fireclown** · Tuesday 31st January 2006, 01:05

hi m8. i have a small garage myself. and tbh that price aint out of the way. not if its a proper job. i would get your rad checked first though.

**JUDGENINJA** · Tuesday 31st January 2006, 01:09

Originally Posted by jmuggali

......, it hasn't been run sice the start of December, when I checked the oil it had some white 'mayo' around the cap

I'll ask them to check the oil cooler first but it's starting to look like the local guy was right......

did you mean that :
1. you haven't run the car since the problem was found...
or
2. you just haven't run the car then you noticed the mayo which you though was the sign of a head gasket failure....?

if it is No 2... do oil change first...Mayo seems to be a common thing on Volvo's that aren't run as often as they should....

**jmuggali** · Tuesday 31st January 2006, 11:27

Originally Posted by JUDGENINJA

did you mean that :
1. you haven't run the car since the problem was found...
or
2. you just haven't run the car then you noticed the mayo which you though was the sign of a head gasket failure....?

if it is No 2... do oil change first...Mayo seems to be a common thing on Volvo's that aren't run as often as they should....

No:1. second I noticed the oil in the coolant I left the car, been missing it, my corrado took 3 years to get back on the road (the day my volvo died!) Puting the corrado up for sale to fund the Volvo now.
At 1st there was no water in the oil just oil in the water, as it overflowed (but did'nt overheat) but only now after driving to the garage 3min drive at that have I noticed water in the oil.

**fireclown** · Tuesday 31st January 2006, 11:32

i would get your rad get checked m8. or at least get a gas test done in the header tank.

**jmuggali** · Tuesday 31st January 2006, 16:35

Booked in for second opinion, fingers crossed, the guy it's going to this time is the my usuall garage asking him to check the rad 1st. Thanks.

**jmuggali** · Monday 20th February 2006, 17:57

Well it took a while but one new radiator a flushed engine and cooling system and all is well (so far so good!) Cost less than half what the 1st 2 garages quoted me on the head and that wasnt the problem anyway. Never had an oil cooler go before so this was a new one on me.