How Much Does A Head Gasket Repair Cost? - BookMyGarage
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Posted on July 31st, 2024 by Eve McPherson
We all care about our cars – and few problems can be as distressing as head gasket failure.
You shouldn’t put off fixing a head gasket issue for long if you want to keep repair costs down.
Head gasket repairs can range from anywhere around £400 to upwards of £2,000, depending on your make and model.
If you’re worried about the cost of a head gasket, you’ve come to the right place.
Our platform gives you the space to choose from a range of verified garages so that you can book with confidence.
Here’s what you need to know about head gasket repair costs and how we can help you make an informed decision.
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Page Contents
- How Much Does a Head Gasket Repair Cost by Make?
- In Need of a Head Gasket Repair?
- Related Guides
How Much Does a Head Gasket Repair Cost by Make?
Take a look at these head gasket repair costs to get an idea of what you can expect to pay for this vital job depending on the car manufacturer.*
Audi = £800 to £1,500
BMW = £800 to £1,500
Ford = £500 to £1,200
Honda = £600 to £1,300
Land Rover = £1,200 to £2,500
Mercedes-Benz = £1,000 to £2,000
Nissan = £400 to £1,000
Toyota = £400 to £1,000
Vauxhall = £500 to £1,200
Volkswagen = £600 to £1,300
*All information in this section based on data taken from Bumper
Regular vehicle maintenance and early diagnosis is your best bet to keep repair costs to a minimum.
Labour costs can make up a large part of the total, rather than the cost of the head gasket itself.
With jobs taking up to 10 hours to complete – and mechanics needing to disassemble the engine to get to the part – you can see why costs ramp up for this type of repair.
Now that you know how much this repair is likely to cost you, we’re here to help you find the right garage for the job...
In Need of a Head Gasket Repair?
If you’ve noticed white exhaust smoke, a loss of power, or engine overheating, then it’s time you booked your car in for a head gasket repair.
We know that repairs can bring a lot of stress. That's why we’re passionate about helping you find options that fit your budget and your car’s needs.
Choose from a range of garages in your local area and request a visual inspection of your car’s head gasket.
Whether you want to check reviews from drivers just like you or you’re looking for the most affordable head gasket repair in your area, you can filter your options by what matters most to you.
Book online with us 24/7 and find a solution to your car worries in no time.
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Related Guides
What Causes a Blown Head Gasket?
What is a Head Gasket?
Frequently asked questions
Why Are Head Gasket Repairs So Expensive?
Whilst the head gasket itself isn’t too costly a part, the job can be expensive as it can take up to 10 hours to complete.The mechanic needs to disassemble the engine to get to the head gasket.When you’re paying up to £50 an hour for a mechanic’s time, it’s easy to see how quickly labour costs can ramp up.Factor in the possibility of a blown head gasket warping your cylinder heads, and you could be looking at up to £900 for the repair.Whilst this isn’t a cheap job, continuing to drive with a faulty head gasket could cause irreversible damage – costing you more in the long run.That’s why it really does pay to be proactive about car care!Is It Worth Fixing My Car's Head Gasket?
If you don’t have your head gasket repaired, this can cause serious engine damage or possibly even engine failure.That’s why it’s important that you book a head gasket repair in good time, so that you can avoid additional costs in future.To prevent a blown head gasket from occurring in the first place, make sure you keep your engine coolant adequately topped up and book in with a mechanic if you suspect a leak.Whether it's worth repairing the head gasket or not will depend on your car's value and the extent of the damage.For older vehicles, for instance, the cost of the repair may outweigh the worth of the car. In such cases, it may be worth weighing up repair costs against the vehicle's remaining lifespan to see if you should have the head gasket repaired.
EVE MCPHERSON
Eve has been Blog Manager for BookMyGarage since 2023. She collaborates closely with experts in the automotive industry to deliver reliable, informative and engaging content and has extensive experience in content creation. Most importantly, she is committed to producing well-researched articles that solve drivers’ problems quickly and in language they understand. Her work has been featured in The Sun, Homeworker Hub and NoExtraSource, among other prominent publications and automotive magazines. Eve graduated from the University of Glasgow with a Master’s Degree in English Literature in 2021. You can find Eve on Linkedin here.
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33 replies to "How Much Does a Head Gasket Repair Cost?"
DazzaReply
April 7th, 2022
I have a little bit of what looks like white smoke coming out of the exhaust in the morning when I start my BMW X5 3.0d 2006 .. but no smoke after that .. it’s like one puff of smoke then that’s it.. ??????POST REPLY
Drew HickmanReply
April 11th, 2022
Hi Dazza, I assume you are worried about this because you never used to see the smoke. Without seeing the car itself, I can't give an exact answer, but I'll do my best to help! While it is most likely a cold engine in the morning, this smoke could be the first sign of a more serious problem. If it were a cylinder head gasket failure, you may also see a loss of coolant or the coolant gauge not reading correctly. If it were the EGR failing or a problem with the engine breather system, you would also see the Engine Management or Emissions Fault light. If any of these lights come on, I would suggest booking an appointment at a garage as soon as possible. If it is just a puff of smoke you're seeing, but you're still concerned about it, I would suggest that you book a diagnostic check at a garage. They will be able to give you a much more accurate diagnosis and give you the peace of mind you need about the issue. Hope this helps!POST REPLY
Md. Masudur RahmanReply
September 14th, 2021
My car engine water reduce increasing day by day. As result the engine overheating during the car run. In the mean time i have checked all the parameter except head gasket changing. So i need your valuable comments suggestion in this regards.POST REPLYDrew HickmanReply
September 15th, 2021
Hi Masudur, These are the symptoms of head gasket failure. You don't need to have them all at once for their to be an issue with yours: Bad head gasket symptoms 1. White smoke coming from the tailpipe. 2. Bubbling in the radiator and coolant reservoir. 3. Unexplained coolant loss with no leaks. 4. Milky white coloration in the oil. 5. Engine overheating. However, head gasket failure can be a tough one to diagnose without the correct equipment and know how and you certainly don’t want to run to the expense of replacing it without being sure. A garage will carry out a combustion gas test, also known as a sniff test, which will check for a CO2 leak into the coolant. If the fluid turns yellow, then there is gas present and the gasket is blown. In the case of a misfire or lack of power, they may do a compression test to check for damage to the cylinder head itself. You can buy the kit to carry out a gas leak test, but the cost is often similar in price to what a garage might charge you. So, I would advise you to get the car to a garage and have it properly diagnosed to avoid spending money on unnecessary repairs. Hope this helps :)POST REPLY
JeffReply
August 17th, 2022
My expansion tank seemed low so topped up with coolant drove for a time and stopped a minute or so after it just blows the coolant out the heater s not working or A/C no warning lights no smoke no oil cream the milage is 61000 the car is 11reg garage says headgascet has failed would this be possible POST REPLYDrew HickmanReply
August 18th, 2022
Hi Jeff, If you have taken your car to a garage and they believe that the problem is to do with your head gasket, then this is most likely the case. You can use the 'Find a garage' feature on the BookMyGarage website to find a garage near you that can diagnose the issue and give you a second opinion. It is always a smart idea to ask a garage, so that you can stay safe on the road. Hope this helps! POST REPLY
ShabsReply
September 23rd, 2022
Hi Drew, I have bubbles in my coolant tank but not sure if it’s because it needs a coolant flush/air purge. Do you think this is still a head gasket issue?POST REPLYDrew HickmanReply
September 23rd, 2022
Hi Shabs, Bubbles in the coolant is definitely a sign of a blown head gasket - as is white smoke billowing out of the exhaust. You will need to have your vehicle looked at by a mechanic, so that they can diagnose the issue. Always better to stay safe by having things like this checked out. If your car does have a blown head gasket, then it is more likely to overheat - so I wouldn't recommend driving to the garage. Have the mechanic come to you or have your car towed to a garage if possible. Hope this helps!POST REPLY
Kevin BarberReply
September 27th, 2022
Hi, I have recently blown the head gasket on my Mokka. I was travelling on the motorway and had a loss of power on acceleration. When called AA they diagnosed the HG. Now the problem was I didn't have any indication on the dash that the water was overheating not an engine warning light. Is this a fault or does all the pretty lights only come on when you start the thing? Thanks for help you give by the way.POST REPLYDrew HickmanReply
September 28th, 2022
Hi Kevin, Your dashboard lights should flash on and turn off when you start your vehicle, as the vehicle will do a self-check. If you were looking for changes to your head gasket, it would be the coolant temperature gauge which would show an increase. Have you noticed a slight coolant loss, or have you had to top up your coolant more frequently recently? Likewise, have you noticed that the interior heat has stopped working? All of this could be a sign that something is wrong. If there is an issue with your head gasket, it could cost up to £1000 to fix, depending on the extent of the damage and how long you have kept driving, as this will cause even more damage. Hope this helps!POST REPLY
Pamela LeeReply
October 9th, 2022
Hello Drew, Hope you are well. I have brown sludge in my water bottle (where the coolent goes). I havent done anything daft like, put oil in there........I know my oil tank is different (ha ha ha). What could this be a sign of? I had my MOT in August 2022 and it passed woth no advisories. I have a 2010 Vauxhall Astra. Pam :o) POST REPLYDrew HickmanReply
October 10th, 2022
Hi Pamela, This could be a sign that there is an issue with your head gasket/that your head gasket may have blown, as it seems like there is oil in the water. It is important that you book in with a garage so that they can take a look at this for you, so that you can stay safe. Hope this helps!POST REPLY
RubenReply
October 22nd, 2022
Hi Drew, I drove my car for the last two years knowing that I was loosing Coolant without leaks. Went to different garages including Nissan and the pressure tests passed in all. Two days ago a whistling noise, engine rattling noise and suddenly car doesn't start. Sounds like it. With labour,roughly, how much will I pay for this? I got a Nissan Xtrail 2015, 1.6 diesel. ThanksPOST REPLYDrew HickmanReply
October 24th, 2022
Hi Ruben, You may require a new engine if it does not turn over - the engine may have seized due to overheating. The best thing to do would be to have a garage look at the engine for you. A failed engine can cost around £3000 (for parts and labour) to fix - though the cost will also depend on the size of the engine, and the cause of the failure. The cause could be anything from a dead battery to turbo failure, so it is always best to have this checked out by a professional garage so that they can find the source of the problem and do something about this. Hope this helps!POST REPLYMartinReply
October 24th, 2022
My transporter dumps coolant. Fill it up, could be three or four days by the time it is below minimum or could be twice In A day I need to fill up. Random. System is pressurised and coolant bubbles back into reservoir. Garage has said a test revealed exhaust gases out of head gasket and could be the leak? They won't do head gaskets anymore though. 😬POST REPLYDrew HickmanReply
October 25th, 2022
Hi Martin, If your vehicle's head gasket has gone, then you will need to have the part replaced. You should also stop driving in the meantime, as continuing to do so could cause more damage to the vehicle as water will mix with oil and could potentially cause the engine to seize. Hope this helps!POST REPLY
Courtney Reply
November 3rd, 2022
Hi the other day i driving my car along the motorway and then when I stopped the car didn’t start again and broke down. The man who come to tow my car said it was my head gasket. Is it normal for the car to not move if it has gone? I didn’t notice any signs beforehand. However the engine sounded as though water was bubbling about 20 minutes before …POST REPLYDrew HickmanReply
November 4th, 2022
Hi Courtney, If your head gasket has gone and caused catastrophic damage to the engine then this can explain why the car isn’t moving. Alternatively, the issue could be a seized engine. The best thing to do would be to have your car looked at by a professional garage, so that they can know for certain. A garage will be able to check your oil to see if it has mixed with water, see if the crank turns, or if they can get anything from turning the key. Hope this helps! POST REPLY
Halvor Hauen Reply
December 13th, 2022
Hei Drew, I’ve been given an estimate of £1500 to £2000 in labour costs to change head gasket on my Mazda cx5. The price is dependent on whether to do the job with engine in or engine out of the car. Are these excessive quotes?POST REPLYDrew HickmanReply
December 14th, 2022
Hi Halvor, It is difficult to say without more information, as this will depend on the nature of the job that is being carried out. Best to ask for a couple quotes if you would like a second opinion. Hope this helps!POST REPLY
Anandu RajReply
March 15th, 2023
Hi, I have an issue with my Citroen DS3. After driving it for 30 mins the coolant boils and got spilled out from the reservoir. Upon further inspection, the radiator was found not working. But I am not sure if this is the issue or the head gasket. hoping to get expert advice on this issue. ThanksPOST REPLYDrew HickmanReply
March 17th, 2023
Hi Anandu, Your vehicle likely has a coolant flow problem of the engine, potentially a blockage. It would be best if you had your vehicle checked out by a professional garage, as it is hard to diagnose the problem without having a look at the vehicle. Hope this helps!POST REPLYMichaelReply
February 18th, 2024
HI DREW, I have had a quote for a cylinder head leaking oil it is £2500 does this sound correct and if so will it be worthwhile, I like the car and would like to keep it for a few more years🤞🤞POST REPLY
Eve McPhersonReply
February 19th, 2024
Hi Michael, Costs associated with repairing leaking oil cylinder heads can vary depending on the brand and model. £2,500 does sound reasonable, but you should get a quote from a main dealer so you can benchmark against other quotes. The garage should include the following in the quote: Valve seal replacements, valve steam replacements (if needed), complete cylinder head pressure test, re-skim cylinder head, re-cut the valve to create tight seal, replace all other associated seals, engine oil and filter change, and coolant change. You should get around 3 quotes to be on the safe side. Hope this helps!POST REPLY
Jim Reply
March 20th, 2023
Hi Drew. I have a Mercedes E Class 2010. For a while I have had black oil spotting on my driveway. Ive had it looked at by a local garage and have been told its the rocker cover gasket. I notice you mention milky leaks. Could it still be a rocker cover gasket issue if the drips are very black? Jim ScottPOST REPLYEve McPhersonReply
March 21st, 2023
Hi Jim, It would be best to have a full inspection performed at another garage if you feel that the garage has not done what was requested, or if you are still concerned. It is hard to advise or comment on an oil leak issue without seeing the vehicle, as the leak could be caused by a number of issues/parts, such as the rocker cover gasket, diff oil seal, or sump gasket etc. If the oil is milky, then this is a sign of water ingress. However, the black oil spot could indicate a slight leak on the engine, and as the garage has looked at it, most likely the rocker cover gasket. As previously stated, it is incredibly difficult to assess the issue without seeing the vehicle. Best to have your vehicle looked at by a professional garage so that they can provide a full inspection and find the issue for you. Hope this helps!POST REPLY
Sharlene Reply
April 30th, 2024
Ford transit van oil and water mixing to white gunk...if this is head gasket, how much am I looking at for repair POST REPLYEve McPhersonReply
May 2nd, 2024
Hi Sharlene, It does sound like the head gasket has gone, which could require a head gasket replacement and flush of the coolant and engine systems. However, it could also mean a new engine due to overheating. Have you thought about cleaning and flushing the engine and coolant first, to then carry out a coolant and oil pressure test? Worst case if a new engine is required this will be a few thousand pounds. Normally a head gasket replacement can cost around £600 to £1,000 depending on where the work is carried out. Hope this helps!POST REPLY
Tracy Reply
May 15th, 2024
Hi there. I have a 1.6 SEAT leon 2010 ecomotive. I was driving along and it kept juddering, I kept thinking it was me in the wrong gear :) Anyway I pulled over off the road and noticed a white steam coming from the bonnet. I immediately knew this was a problem. I called the RAC who sent out a third party mobile mechanic. The mechanic checked it over and looked in the oil, put his finger in there and said there's water running around the engine and in your oil, it's your head gasket. It's been at the garage for two weeks and they've not had time to look at it yet! I'm getting frustrated because I'd like to know if it is actually the head gasket or potentially something else? What are your thoughts? No other symptoms in the run up to this happening on that day. Heater in car worked but the ac was blowing rather warm! POST REPLYEve McPhersonReply
May 16th, 2024
Hi Tracy, If the technician found oil in the water there is every chance that there is a blown head gasket, though it is hard for us to diagnose without seeing the vehicle. The garage needs to perform a few tests to correctly diagnose the fault. The garage would need to carry out a block test and coolant pressure test. If the head gasket is blown there is also a possibility that the cylinder head would require skimming, and perhaps also the valve seals may need to be replaced etc. The garage really needs to feedback after their diagnosis to understand the extent of the repairs. Please bear in mind that certain associated parts may need replacing when removing the cylinder head, like the water pump, thermostat etc. As part of the cylinder head repair, the oil, oil filter, cylinder head gaskets and coolant will automatically be replaced. You should push the site to at least give you an idea of what is wrong with your vehicle, or have it lifted to another garage that can look at it quicker than the current one. Hope this helps!POST REPLY
Karoly MitroReply
August 1st, 2024
Hi Drew, My car (Vauxhall Insignia) is loosing coolant very fast, and after stopping the car there is a massive leak coming down from under the engine space. Obviously, since it is loosing coolant fast the engine starts to overheat. Is this a definite sign of a Head Gas Kit issue? Many thanks. POST REPLYEve McPhersonReply
August 5th, 2024
Hi Karoly, It could be the head gasket, but it may also be a damaged or faulty coolant pipe that is leaking. Normally with a head gasket issue you will see white smoke and notice slight leakage. You will need to have the vehicle inspected at a professional garage to know for certain and have the issue fixed. Hope this helps!POST REPLYLeave a comment
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