Coolant leak from head gasket

[mtvrg]

Just had a service at Hendry's - no probs as usual but they said I had a coolant leak from the left head gasket (rear end).

They reckon on £800-1000 to get both heads off, skim them, and fit new gaskets, and don't recommend doing a trackday with all that extra heat and stress (to the engine, not the driver!).

Anyway, I'm not about to jump in with both feet yet, so has anybody had a similar problem or got any thoughts on this one?

Cheers
Mike (Raspberry Gloves)

[Trefor]

Why do both heads if only one is leaking? It's not like brake or suspension components which ought to be done in pairs. Is it?

[dannyboyo]

Trefor said:

Why do both heads if only one is leaking? It's not like brake or suspension components which ought to be done in pairs. Is it?

I guess if they're gonna take one head of they may aswell do both while they're at it. The other one may be on the verge of blowing to!!

[ribol]

It depends on how much needs to be skimmed off the offending head and if it is a flat head or with chambers. If it has chambers then by skimming it you will alter the compression ratio. That being the case then both heads should be done to do the job properly.

Ivan

[shpub]

If you look in Bible 2 you will see where the offending gasket is probably leaking. It is very close to the oil ways and exhasut. It is likly that it will get worse and either contaiminate the oil or pressurise the cooling and chuck out all the liquid. In either case watch the temp like a hawk and make sure that the coolent is not going into the oil and creating mayo. If so. Don't drive the car any further. Recover it to hospital. If either thing happens you can warp the heads so much that skimming is useless and you are looking for a pair of new heads! Add 2-3 grand to the bill. Definitely worth chceking the state of the rocker gear and cam as the main cost is the labour in removing the heads.

There is a lot more detail in the bible of the fun I experienced last year.

Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk

[shpub]

If you look in Bible 2 you will see where the offending gasket is probably leaking. It is very close to the oil ways and exhasut. It is likly that it will get worse and either contaiminate the oil or pressurise the cooling and chuck out all the liquid. In either case watch the temp like a hawk and make sure that the coolent is not going into the oil and creating mayo. If so. Don't drive the car any further. Recover it to hospital. If either thing happens you can warp the heads so much that skimming is useless and you are looking for a pair of new heads! Add 2-3 grand to the bill. Definitely worth chceking the state of the rocker gear and cam as the main cost is the labour in removing the heads.

There is a lot more detail in the bible of the fun I experienced last year.

Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk

[mtvrg]

Thanks everyone, especially SteveH. (Looks like I'd better upgrade from Bible1 to Bible2 sometime).

I'll ring around for alternative quotes...

[NC3]

Try TVR Power in Coventry, they know what they're up to as they built the originals, and have all the right kit around them for the job. They did mine when the exhaust side of the gasket went - fortunately under warranty!

[mtvrg]

Thanks NC3 - You're not the first to recommend TVR Power, and indeed I booked the job in with them this very morning. Cheers, Mike

[UpTheIron]

mtvrg said:

Thanks NC3 - You're not the first to recommend TVR Power, and indeed I booked the job in with them this very morning. Cheers, Mike

If you don't mind me asking, how much did they quote you for the job? I've got a mystery coolant leak that by a process of elimination is looking like head gasket problems (or worse!)

[mtvrg]

The 'estimate' was 8 hours plus parts plus a possible head skim plus vat for one bank. (14 hours plus for both sides if you think that's necesary).

They charge £44 per hour so with, say, £50 for gaskets and bolts, etc, one bank comes to about £500 or so.

[ssc1]

can you not do the job yourself , ie take the heads off and get an engineering firm to check if they are flat and skim if its needed as its not a high tech motor and dont have cambelts just pushrods and get a top end gasket set, just takes a bit of care and a torque wrench and a lot of your time ....

[mtvrg]

That's a fair point, if you have the time and the confidence. Unfortunately I don't really have either.

Also, I have been led to believe (NOT by TVR Power I might add), that you cannot get the head(s) off without first removing the engine from the bay...

[shpub]

The heads were done on my Griff at Tower View without removing the engine. Air conditioning has to come off and then be regassed and the front oil cover and this can be a right swine but it can be done in situ.

[NC3]

I believe TVR power did both heads on mine without removing the engine.

[mtvrg]

Interesting! - I'm certainly a lot happier knowing that my 'source' was wrong and that it's an engine-in job (less to cock up that way).

Thanks.