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Blown Head Gasket
27 Apr 2026 00:37 #264308
by Boyes
Replied by Boyes on topic Blown Head Gasket
Just thought I would chirp in, as I have first hand experience on this..
I bought my 2004 jimny with the head gasket gone, I repaired it at home (nothing too difficult)
I do have an engineering background which helps greatly, but nothing anyone couldn't do, also to add the suzuki Jimny manual is fantastic (Jap's are brilliant! compared to french or german's who charge extra/dealer only).
To break it down cost wise;
£45 - Head skim (local firm)
£50 - Head gasket kit (Came with all gaskets inlet, exhaust, and oil stem seals etc).
£13 - head bolts
£5 - thermostat
£10 - oil filter (I had water in the oil)
£25 - Water pump
Then oil & other filters (Air, pollen, I also did the fuel which is in tank).
New fan belt maybe?
I also had to fit new core plugs which were cheap enough.
Also the chain's aren't prone to failure like a lot of newer cars (BMW N series engine etc) so that can be re-used.
I carried this out 3 years ago now so prices will change, but all parts were decent brands from Autodoc.
I did it over a few weeks (didn't rush was in my garage, but probably had a steady 8-10 hours or so, they are simple engine's and there is room to work around them compared to most modern engines).
With a price like what they have quoted you I would say they don't want the work, I would recommend looking elsewhere and asking for recommendations from others.
Price wise at a garage, it shouldn't be more than £1000, I would say a days labour plus parts so maybe £600/800 (Not good on prices as I repair all my cars myself, but I've head of specialist's charging £130 an hour
).
Steel seal I've used it (Mum's audi A4 with "porous head" known problem, but it had a new headgasket 18 months before she bought it (cambelt snapped) so reluctant to attempt a repair I used a bottle of steel seal.
It lasted probably 18 months, I had to do it once again but her audi wasn't overheating it was loosing coolant and she had to top it up once or twice a week.
I bought my 2004 jimny with the head gasket gone, I repaired it at home (nothing too difficult)
I do have an engineering background which helps greatly, but nothing anyone couldn't do, also to add the suzuki Jimny manual is fantastic (Jap's are brilliant! compared to french or german's who charge extra/dealer only).
To break it down cost wise;
£45 - Head skim (local firm)
£50 - Head gasket kit (Came with all gaskets inlet, exhaust, and oil stem seals etc).
£13 - head bolts
£5 - thermostat
£10 - oil filter (I had water in the oil)
£25 - Water pump
Then oil & other filters (Air, pollen, I also did the fuel which is in tank).
New fan belt maybe?
I also had to fit new core plugs which were cheap enough.
Also the chain's aren't prone to failure like a lot of newer cars (BMW N series engine etc) so that can be re-used.
I carried this out 3 years ago now so prices will change, but all parts were decent brands from Autodoc.
I did it over a few weeks (didn't rush was in my garage, but probably had a steady 8-10 hours or so, they are simple engine's and there is room to work around them compared to most modern engines).
With a price like what they have quoted you I would say they don't want the work, I would recommend looking elsewhere and asking for recommendations from others.
Price wise at a garage, it shouldn't be more than £1000, I would say a days labour plus parts so maybe £600/800 (Not good on prices as I repair all my cars myself, but I've head of specialist's charging £130 an hour
Steel seal I've used it (Mum's audi A4 with "porous head" known problem, but it had a new headgasket 18 months before she bought it (cambelt snapped) so reluctant to attempt a repair I used a bottle of steel seal.
It lasted probably 18 months, I had to do it once again but her audi wasn't overheating it was loosing coolant and she had to top it up once or twice a week.
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