Head Gasket Costs

The head gasket is a crucial piece of your car’s engine. Your car does not function properly if you have a broken or faulty head gasket. Head gasket costs vary depending on the type of vehicle you have. You may be able to pay as low as $500 in repairs, but if you have a modern car you will more likely pay up to $1500 between parts and labor.

What Does a Head Gasket Do?

Your engine’s head uses valves as well as other components, all of which give gasoline to your cylinders. Head gaskets use the pressure produced from the cylinders in your engine and drive the pistons up and down. They also keep the water that prevents your engine from overheating out of the oil pan. A blown head gasket lets the pressure out, letting water into your engine oil.

How do You Know if Your Head Gasket is Faulty?

The first sign that you have a blown head gasket is finding water in your oil or oil in your water. The way to check if there is water in your oil is to check your dipstick. If the oil looks milky, you likely have a leak from your water supply and may very well have blown the head gasket. As soon as you realize you have blown your head gasket, get it taken care of right away.

How Much Does it Cost to Replace a Head Gasket?

The cost to replace your head gasket varies. If you have a higher-end vehicle for which parts are not as easy to obtain, as opposed to a more common car, you will likely pay more. Another thing to keep in mind is that while you have to pay for parts themselves, you also have to pay for labor to install them. If you know how to replace your own head gasket you can save yourself a good amount of money, as many mechanics work on a project like this for as much as $80 an hour.

What can You do to Prevent Having to Replace Your Head Gasket Again?

Unfortunately, there is no solid way to prevent this from happening. Making sure that you have the proper amounts of coolant and antifreeze in your engine helps. Keeping your car from overheating is also key, as when your car overheats the heads warp, thus blowing your head gasket. You want to be as careful as possible, as the cost for parts and labor for head gaskets can be quite expensive.

Head gasket costs can be high or higher depending on the type of vehicle you have. If you take precautions to help prevent blowing your gasket, you will be better off when it comes to repair costs and maintenance. Not including parts, labor itself can cost a small fortune. Like your dad always said: take care of your car, and it will take care of you.