Figuring out how to fix your head gasket leak can be a difficult decision, but unfortunately it is one you have to make. Continuing to drive your vehicle with a head gasket leak can be a dangerous thing. Even if it’s a small leak and you only have to add coolant every few days, driving your car with a blown head gasket can lead to even more costly engine damage, and has the potential to leave you stranded with a hefty towing bill. Similarly, it doesn’t do any good to let your car simply sit while you waver on the decision. Sitting is bad for any car as it can lead to flat tires, dead batteries and dried out seals. If your car also has a head gasket leak, your engine will have water in places it shouldn’t be leading to rust and corrosion. This rust and corrosion can turn a head gasket job into a full engine rebuild and end up costing you a lot more money.
When it coming to fixing your head gasket leak, there a few different factors that should influence your decision:
- What is your car worth?
- How quickly do you need your car back?
- Do you have a mechanic you trust to do this complicated of a job?
- What will it cost?
The first thing to consider is the value of your car. On some late model cars, a blown head gasket is enough to consider the car dead. Often times the cost of a mechanic’s repairs will actually be more than the car is worth and you would be better off putting that money towards a new vehicle. In this step it is also worth thinking about whether or not that vehicle has special meaning to you or someone in your family as that can sometimes be a reason to spend a little extra to keep that car on the road.
Next, consider how quickly you need your car back. Some mechanics may need your car for 1 to 3 weeks to complete a head gasket job. The long repair time is due to the intricacy of the work that needs to be done, the availability of the parts and that sometimes extra work needs to be done to the components removed, like the cylinder heads, which a mechanic will need to have done by another shop. If you’ve got another vehicle you can drive or share in the meantime, this may not be an issue for you, but if this is your only car, 3 weeks just isn’t an option.
As we mentioned early, replacing a head gasket takes a significant amount of skill and knowledge of how an engine works. Many entry level mechanics won’t have the experience or education to complete a job like this so choosing the right mechanic for the job is a very important step in figuring out how to fix your head gasket leak. It would be best to have an ASE certified Master Mechanic doing the job, but along with the fancy title usually comes higher hourly labor costs.
The last piece of the puzzle to consider is what the total cost will be for the work. If you have an inline 4 or 6 cylinder engine you may be able to have to head gasket replaced for as little as $1000. If you have an H4, V6 or V8 engine you may be in for costs ranging from $1500 to $3500 to have the head gaskets replaced.
Luckily, there is a way to fix your head gasket leak without replacing your head gaskets! BlueDevil Pour-N-Go Head Gasket Sealer is a quick and easy to use alternative to replacing your head gaskets. BlueDevil Pour-N-Go Head Gasket Sealer lives up to its name in that you simply pour it into your radiator while the engine is cold and idling, replace the radiator cap, and go! BlueDevil Pour-N-Go Head Gasket Sealer will seal the leak in your head gasket while your engine is idling getting your car back on the road quickly and for less than the cost of a new set of brake pads!
For more information about BlueDevil Pour-N-Go Head Gasket Sealer, visit our product information page here:
When you’re ready to fix your head gasket leak head to your favorite local auto parts store to pick up any of BlueDevil Products:
- AutoZone
- Advance Auto Parts
- Bennett Auto Supply
- CarQuest Auto parts
- NAPA Auto Parts
- O’Reilly Auto Parts
- Pep Boys
- Fast Track
- Bumper to Bumper Auto Parts Specialists
- S&E Quick Lube Distributer
- DYK Automotive
Pictures provided by:
head_gasket_leak.jpg – By Tony Harrison – Licensed By Creative Commons via Flickr – Original Link
head_gasket.jpg – By Nibi – Licensed By Creative Commons via Wikimedia – Original Link
