its had new cam kit, recon engine, feeli've spent so muxh i cant afford to dump it. Any advice?
2006-11-23 18:31:35 · 12 answers · asked by ? 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Its sounds to me the head isn't fitting correctly or hasn't been tightened down correctly. If the head hasn't been skimmed then it should have been before fitting new gasket. If every thing has been done correctly then the other thing is that the block is warped and needs skimming. You don't say what is leaking when the gasket goes, is it losing water or blowing between the bores or is water getting into the oil, The other possibility is that the head maybe porous. Depending where the leak is maybe a pressure test on the head is needed.
2006-11-23 18:56:40 · answer #1 · answered by rocky 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You don't say what size the engine is. In the 2 litre the gap between the cylinders is very small and this is prone to blow the head gasket very easily. Use the standard cheap lower octain fuel as this puts less strain on the gasket. Don't let the garage put a standard head gasket in, get a high performance version from a Vauxhall tuning specialist. I wouldn't advise having the head gas flowed on the larger engines either.
The head may also be distorted so get this checked. If this is the problem it's no good getting it skimmed as this puts up the compression ratio which only makes the problem worse, you will need a new head.
Another possibility is to have an insert fitted to strengthen the weak area around each cylinder as used in the drag engines (if you have the money). Speak to a good tuning specialist who will advise.
2006-11-23 22:47:37 · answer #2 · answered by Warlock 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Head gasket isn't that common on an Astra, however that is not to say they don't fail.
If the first replacement was not done correctly, then it won't last long at all. The head will have been warped, and should have been planed flat again, new head bolts must be used every time, as the old bolts would have stretched as they are designed to do.
There are many variables, but a head gasket failure after 6 months reeks of incompetence to me.
You also mention it has had a recon engine. if the head gasket is failing on a recon engine, then I suspect you have had a very poorly reconditioned engine fitted. Does this 'recon' engine' have no warranty attached to it?
It all sounds a bit 'amateurish and bodged' to me. I think you need to review who does your maintenance.
2006-11-23 18:39:13 · answer #3 · answered by Phish 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Who fitted the head gasket last time if it was a garage you may have some joy from them, if you did it yourself id suggest having the head skimmed then make sure when you do the job you follow the Haynes manual to the letter and torque it up in the correct order
Ignore LEX talk about bad advice he had a vauxhall once so judges the entire range well i once drove a rolls royce and didn't like it does that mean the rest are crap.... MMMMM buy a ford yeah right FORD stands for Fix Or Repair Daily
mind you LOTUS Loads Of Trouble Usually Serious
2006-11-23 19:36:48 · answer #4 · answered by max_headroom600 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
even if the gasket COULD be repaired (they dont tend to be), the cost is in removing all the bits of the engine to get to it. In my experience on a car that old, get rid of it and buy another. I can't imagine an 11 year old astra is worth much more than £500. Not entirely sure why he would replace the water tank, you may be able to find a cheaper head gasket specialist who would charge far less (and throw in the cam belt replacement for free as it is really easy to do while the gasket change is happening)
2016-05-22 21:46:47 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Vauxhalls are terrible on head gaskets, i bought a vauxhall once never again!! Use ford mate better engineering. The heads warp and cause the gaskets to rupture, OLD VAUXHALLS A BIG no no!!
2006-11-23 18:41:12 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all which engine is it?? no it's not common for two head gaskets to go in six months, what symptoms have you got??? it may not be the head gasket, what tests have been carried out???
Before answering this question we really need some more information
2006-11-23 22:28:30 · answer #7 · answered by michael2k_18 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No it is not common , i would say very poor workmanship , if the head was not skimmed it very ofton will blow a gasket again , or the head bolts not changed or pulled down to the correct torque setting . Whatever who ever did the job didnt do it properly
2006-11-23 19:27:40 · answer #8 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What kind of car is this ?
I have been driving VW`s , Volvos since 1960 and the last 9 years
KIA`s and I never heard of such problems.
2006-11-23 23:14:35 · answer #9 · answered by swenson0 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like the first gaskett wasnt fixed right, maybe the head wasnt completely flat and should have been skimmed
2006-11-23 19:22:34 · answer #10 · answered by Nimbus 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋