Head gasket replacement cost?

I'm finally facing the fact my head gasket is going on my Disco V8. I've thought it has for a while, but the more coolant I'm using coupled with a few other tell tale signs, I think it now needs sorting.

The car is a 2002 Dicovery 2 V8 with 125,000 miles.

As I'm not THAT mechanically minded and don't want to ruin my car any further, what sort of price can I expect to pay at an independent garage? Also, is there anything else I should consider having changed whilst the engine is dismantled.

Many thanks
Ryan

A lot depends on what you find, but don't automatically assume water loss is going to be a head gasket.

Is the coolant clean? Are you using OAT coolant?

Have you check ALL hoses for leaks?

If the gasket(s) have gone, then usually a head skim is required, composite gaskets not steel shim type, and buy a decent brand of gasket. Victor Reinz is good but not cheap.

Peter

That's not good news as listerdiesel says though... are you sure? what are the other tell tale signs? water in oil? have you had a sniff test done on the coolant?
which garage do you use down there? the guy at the back of the ice cream factory who does all the classic cars/landys might be a good shout?

It bit of a conundrum as the mech could pull the heads to find a dropped/pulled liner then what do you do? the mech wont warrant the work if you just say slap it back together with new gaskets.
I know what I would do and its called K-seal.

As lynall says, it could be a dropped liner. In fact I'd go further and say it will be a dropped liner (assuming all hoses are okay) if the engine's never been worked on before in which case you're wasting your time and money replacing the gasket(s). All later V8's should have the composite gaskets fitted as standard and I've never yet had one fail (never had a steel one go either for that matter) whereas every 94mm bore block I've had has had liner issues.

If you have high pressure in the coolant system but not necessarily water in the oil then I'd say you're at the start of a cylinder drop. Mine eventually got to the point of filling number 6 with water so it wouldn't start and only then did the oil start emulsifying. You could try putting an inspection camera into each cylinder through the spark plug holes and seeing if the piston face has that washed clean look.

So cost wise, £800 to have your block top hat lined, £500+ for bearings, pistons, camshaft and anything else you think worth changing whilst you have the engine out. Another hundred + for a new clutch (you don't want to put it all back and then find the clutch goes in another few thousand miles), plus the cost of a week or so's labour.

I just did mine myself (apart from having the block relined), admittedly I also put in a 4.6 crank and better camshaft etc., and reckon it was around £2000 to £2500 for the parts.

I did use a supposed "miracle cure" sealant last year as at the time I just wanted to delay the inevitable until the 90 was back on the road and got about another 15000 miles before she finally succumbed. Depending on how far gone yours has gone and how long you want to keep it for, it might be worth trying. Good luck.

Or it could just be a gasket

Hi anybody had a Head Gasket done on a Defender 90- 300Tdi , if so how much did it cost ?

puffin1 said:

Hi anybody had a Head Gasket done on a Defender 90- 300Tdi , if so how much did it cost ?

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This thread is over a year old and is on the discovery forum about the superb v8 engine...try asking on the engine forum or defender...as for cost 3 levels...diy,Indy,main stealer...

ok