Possible blown head gasket. Super!

BradicusMaximus

Basically I might have a blown/cracked head gasket. Its too dark to out to check right now but I'll be checking tomorrow. I drive and oldass 92 Saturn SL if that matters at all. If that is the case how much is the repair cost gonna set me back? My girlfriends father is amazing with cars and has had to make this repair before, so I can at least cut out the cost of a mechanic.

dispatch.o

I don't think you should just not pay for a repair like that. Maybe pay a friendly rate, but it's not like a flat tire. He should be able to give you a quote on the parts anyway if he's a working mechanic. It's been a while but I believe I ended out paying 3700$ on a 99 Ford Explorer for parts and labor.

BradicusMaximus

Hes helped me with major repairs on my previous car plenty of times and I've offered money but he would always refuse. Its hard to say without sounding mean but he has a LOT of free time and working on cars is something he does to help pass the time. I'm obviously going to pay for the parts. I can offer him payment but I already know hes going to decline.

Raekreu

Get your GF's dad to look at it. If the head gasket itself failed...you can get a new gasket kit for a couple hundred bucks, but if you got unlucky then the engine block cracked or warped. If it cracked, that's it. Car is totaled unless you get a new engine.

Pel

Parts are cheap, labor is a PITA.

The good news is that your car probably only has 1 cylinder bank (if it's a 4 cylinder) which means literally half the labor. If you had to pay for labor it would probably be cheaper and/or better to find another car.

Ego

Pel wrote: »

Parts are cheap, labor is a PITA.

The good news is that your car probably only has 1 cylinder bank (if it's a 4 cylinder) which means literally half the labor. If you had to pay for labor it would probably be cheaper and/or better to find another car.

Yep, you're really lucky you have someone who can do the repair for you. The actual headgasket is dirt cheap, it's all the work that goes into replacing it that kills you. So, lucky you. I would do something very very nice for your girlfriend's father.

Donovan Puppyfucker

Standard rate in Australia is a carton of the helper's favourite beer/bottle of their favourite liquor. A head gasket is a more in depth job that will take up a whole afternoon at least, so maybe you and her take her folks out to dinner?

If he takes a peek at it and says 'yep it's the headgasket', you just need the headgasket. Last time I changed one of those on a four cylinder car a new gasket cost me $36, and that's Aussie prices. It should be half that in the US! Is yours the DOHC engine?

TraceofToxin

If you really hate your car and don't give a shit about it you can also get the head-gasket sealent shit. Man that stuff is garbage but I've seen it work on a (Surprise) Saturn SL2.

I personally wouldn't do it on my cars, but then again, I love my cars.

BradicusMaximus

Thanks for the really quick responses guys. It appears I have gotten extremely lucky.

I'm going to go kiss my car that's too dumb to die and go cry in a corner now.