Head gasket replacement on MX 5

[Jacquesvins]

Hi,
Would a workshop replace a head gasket on a MX5 mk 1 at the time of changing the belts - is this normal, or can one suspect that the motor blew the gasket, more than likely from overheating.

I have been told `the gasket was leaking a bit` that is why it was changed.

I would be interested in your views,
Many thanks,
Jacques.
[e-mail]

[morgrp]

May have been leaking - I certainly wouldn't have changed it without asking - if they charged you less 500quid for both expect it to be a st job and need replacing again in the next couple of years

[vrsmxtb]

Are you sure it wasn't just the cam cover gasket?

Replacing a head gasket just when replacing the belts would be very odd and far from routine, and downright wrong if they didn't check with you first. It would be a big expensive job, with many symptoms of it leaking beforehand (oil in water/ cooling system pressurisation/overheating) which should've been investigated first.

Edited by vrsmxtb on Wednesday 5th September 19:53

[Jacquesvins]

vrsmxtb said:

Are you sure it wasn't just the cam cover gasket?

Replacing a head gasket just when replacing the belts would be very odd and far from routine, and downright wrong if they didn't check with you first. It would be a big expensive job, with many symptoms of it leaking beforehand (oil in water/ cooling system pressurisation/overheating) which should've been investigated first.

Edited by vrsmxtb on Wednesday 5th September 19:53

Its not my car, just one I am considering and `as a plus` the lady says she`s had the head gasket changed because it was leaking `a bit` - I think you may be right. I thus need to further investigate...

Thanks for your wise comments,

Jacques.
[e-mail]

[vrsmxtb]

Jacquesvins said:

vrsmxtb said:

Are you sure it wasn't just the cam cover gasket?

Replacing a head gasket just when replacing the belts would be very odd and far from routine, and downright wrong if they didn't check with you first. It would be a big expensive job, with many symptoms of it leaking beforehand (oil in water/ cooling system pressurisation/overheating) which should've been investigated first.

Edited by vrsmxtb on Wednesday 5th September 19:53

Its not my car, just one I am considering and `as a plus` the lady says she`s had the head gasket changed because it was leaking `a bit` - I think you may be right. I thus need to further investigate...

Thanks for your wise comments,

Jacques.
[e-mail]

I'd be careful - head gasket failure isn't that common on the MX5, so if it has been done it probably overheated which may have caused other damage or point to bad maintenance or even failure with other cooling system parts eg. blocked radiator, seized thermostat etc in the past.

[CConway853]

Hi,
I have a mx5 mk1 it was for it for track use, the engine overheated and blew a hole in the radiator, is this the head gasket ? i replaced the radiator and continued but the pressure just blew the top of the next radiator again with very little use.

[designforlife]

My mk2.5 has had a minor HG oil leak for years (External, rear of the block,stops leaking once the block has warmed up)...god knows why the previous owner didn't get it sorted under warranty.

Seems odd that a garage would do it unless the car was literally spewing oil. Mine drops about a litre a year so I just top it up.

[Riknos]

designforlife said:

My mk2.5 has had a minor HG oil leak for years (External, rear of the block,stops leaking once the block has warmed up)...god knows why the previous owner didn't get it sorted under warranty.

Seems odd that a garage would do it unless the car was literally spewing oil. Mine drops about a litre a year so I just top it up.

Oil leaks can be handy for forming a rust proof layer - My GT4 had a rust free, caked in oil, bottom end

OP - I would say 95% chance it's the cam cover gasket and not head gasket, and she has just got confused.