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Quickly find and book Head Gasket Repairs in Scotland

Looking for a garage to fix your Head Gasket Repairs in Scotland?

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Head Gasket Inspection

Looking for a garage to fix your Head Gasket Repairs in Scotland?

4.7* on Trustpilot

*Based on Trustpilot: out average rating
4.7 out of 5 from 5461 reviews.

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14,022,392 happy drivers can’t be wrong.

“I’m always on the go, so booking my MOT on my phone was really useful.
I compared garages, picked the best one for me and even saved money, all whilst waiting for my morning coffee!”

4.7/5 based on over 5461 Trustpilot reviews*
* Based on Trustpilot: our average rating 4.7/5 from 5,461 reviews.
LVS Garage Services Logo
LVS Garage Services
8 Kelvin Square, Houstoun Industrial Estate, Livingston, EH54 5PF
709 Reviews
Small independently Family run garageBased in Livingston for over 30 years

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LVS Garage Services is a small independently Family run garage based in Livingston for over 35 years. Our specialist team of mechanics provide a personal and friendly service and are dedicated to providing our customers with the highest quality of car care. We offer all our customers an extremely hi...

Tynecastle Garage Logo
Tynecastle Garage
60 Gorgie Road, Edinburgh, EH11 2NB
530 Reviews
Book a Next Day MOT or Service!

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CAR & VAN MOT TESTING FIXED PRICE SERVICING MECHANICAL REPAIRS AIR CON RECHARGE !!!IINCLUDING NEW STYLE GAS!!! TYRES, BATTERIES & EXHAUSTS WELDING ACCIDENT REPAIR CENTRE (FREE ESTIMATES) DIAGNOSTIC CHECKS

Metro Auto Centre Logo
Metro Auto Centre
157/158, lower granton road, edinburgh, EH5 1EY
365 Reviews
20 years of experience

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MOT Cars SERVICING, REPAIRS, TYRES, BRAKES, CLUTCHES and more.. Our garage is a friendly, local business run in the heart of Edinburgh that has 20 years of experience. Our business puts our customers first and that’s why we’re proud to offer extremely high standards of customer service, and workm...

Cairnlea Garage Logo
Cairnlea Garage
IBROX, IBROX, GLASGOW, G51 2UZ
169 Reviews
We have been in business since 1948

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We are a local, independent garage, serving Ibrox, Govan, Glasgow and the surrounding area. We have been in business since 1948 Now on the second generation of the same family.

Livingston Autocare Logo
Livingston Autocare
6 Lindsay Square, Livingston, EH54 8RL
253 Reviews
Our parts & labour guaranteed for 1yr

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Livingston Autocare is a Class 4 & 7 MOT Testing station and garage. It was formed after a conversation between 3 friends as to what kind of a garage we would be happy not just to take our vehicles to but to recommend to our friends and family. With Darren & James being in the business in excess of ...

HQ Garage Services Logo
HQ Garage Services
16 Ridge Way, Hillend Industrial Estate, Dalgety Bay, KY11 9JN
103 Reviews
10% discount NHS staff on showing of I.DWe offer a 10% discount to Sky employeesAdBlue is £20 based on 5L

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We’re experienced in all aspects of repairs, from brakes to exhausts and (literally) everything in between. If your car needs it, we can help – some of the areas in which we specialise are: Expert car care MOTs Superior servicing Air conditioning Diagnostic specialists Health check Wheel alignment...

What is a head gasket?

The head gasket in your car separates the oil and the coolant in the engine. As its name suggests, it is a gasket, which is located between the cylinder head and the engine block - in the car’s engine. Its main function is to seal the cylinders to ensure the highest compression possible and separates the oil and water; oil to lubricate the engine and water to cool the engine. The head gasket also ensures that the whole internal combustion process is contained within the engine.

Why is a head gasket important?

The head gasket is a critical sealing component of your vehicle's engine. Any potential problem with your head gasket should be dealt with immediately as it can lead to more severe issues developing, which if ignored will increase the cost of your repairs. Once a head gasket is blown, it can cause further damage to your vehicle's engine such as leaks, loss of water, decreased fuel efficiency and overheating. The longer you drive with a blown head gasket, the more damage it will cause to your engine. In the worst cases scenario, if left for a long time you could be looking at a complete engine replacement.

What causes head gasket problems?

The head gasket is a very important part of an engine. It can fail due to the engine overheating so it’s always important that you check your coolant level regularly (when the car has cooled down). If you are having to top up your coolant regularly and you can see no water leaks on the ground, then this is a sign that you have a head gasket problem and you should have this checked out as soon as possible. One of the main causes of a damaged head gasket is extremely high engine temperature, and an overheating engine temperature is often caused by a coolant leak. There could be other reasons behind a head gasket failure, including; incorrect coolant inhibitor, the cooling system not working efficiently causing hotspots between the centre cylinders, and pre-ignition problems.

How do you know if you have blown a head gasket?

Warning bells should be ringing if:

  • your car's coolant level warning light is on (if the car has one),
  • on checking coolant (when the engine is cold) - the level is very low, or if your engine is showing a very high temperature on the coolant temperature gauge (if fitted)
  • your vehicle is not running smoothly, or you see light coloured smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe or white discoloured oil on the engine oil level dipstick
These could all be signs of a blown head gasket and should be promptly seen to by a mechanic.

 

Can you drive your car with a blown head gasket?

If you suspect that your car has a blown head gasket, do not try to drive it and have it seen to by a mechanic promptly. They may need to have your car towed to their garage to diagnose the issue and either repair or replace the part(s).

How much does it cost to replace a head gasket?

Repairing and replacing a head gasket often requires:

  • A new gasket kit and replacement bolts.
  • Testing and flattening the cylinder head.
  • Replacement of oil filter, oil and ant-freeze.

 

Head gasket repairs will require the engine cylinder head being removed from the engine block as the gasket sits between these two components. The cylinder head may need to be resurfaced and new bolts will need to be fitted as they can stretch. The work will also involve changing the engine oil and coolant, and all water hoses will be checked at the same time.

If the cylinder head is cracked, it can sometimes be repaired by first being pressure-tested to detect any cracking or warping, which are the results of the high temperatures in which it operates, then being skimmed flat to return it to its proper shape.

As soon as you suspect that you may have a blown head gasket, you should get booked into a garage to have it replaced. The parts and labour costs will vary depending on the garage that you choose to take your car to. All of the above work will probably take a mechanic roughly six hours (depending on the severity) and you have to take this labour into consideration on top of the parts required. Each garage has its own hourly rate and if you enter your vehicle registration number and post code at the top of this page, you’ll be able to compare the labour rates, reviews, distance, and more from all of the top garages in your local area. This allows you to choose a garage that you can trust for a rough price point that is suitable for you.

Driving in Scotland

Motorists in Scotland come up against a range of challenges. The tourism and festival hub of Edinburgh experiences the extremes of urban congestion; but drive out into the Highlands and you may find yourself squaring up against one of the herds of long-horned Highland cattle that roam freely in some areas. BookMyGarage can compare garages the length and breadth of Scotland, whether you’re negotiating Glasgow City Centre or gazing at the expanse of Loch Ness.

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Head Gasket Inspection