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Quickly find and book Head Gasket Repairs in Wales

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

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Head Gasket Inspection

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

4.6* on Trustpilot

*Based on Trustpilot: out average rating
4.6 out of 5 from 5485 reviews.

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14,116,720 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!”

4.6/5 based on over 5485 Trustpilot reviews*
* Based on Trustpilot: our average rating 4.6/5 from 5,485 reviews.
CAERPHILLY MOT CENTRE Logo
CAERPHILLY MOT CENTRE
81b commercial stree, PONTYGWINDY INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, Caerphilly, CF83 3HU
665 Reviews

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Caerphilly MOT Centre as your local independent garage serving the Caerphilly area. We will do everything we can to meet your expectations. We provide a comprehensive motor vehicle repair service, including servicing, MOT, Air-con & general repairs. We are able to service most vehicle types and give...

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MOT-A-ZONE
Duel House, Llandowlais Street, Cwmbran, NP44 7XB
904 Reviews

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Trusted local independent workshops working on all makes and model new or old to provide exceptional service with good value for money using state of the art equipment. All work carried out is covered by a nationwide guarantee using oe quality parts.

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Manic Mechanics
Kings Parade, Frederick Street, NEWPORT, NP20 2DR
508 Reviews

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We are a small friendly garage on the edge of Newport centre, offering a range of vehicle services for all makes and models, including Servicing, repairs and MOT’s. Visiting a garage shouldn’t be a painful experience. That’s why we pride ourselves in our customer care. We like to keep things sim...

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Auto Electrical Services (Skewen)
AUTO ELECRCAL SERVICES, PICTON ROAD, SKEWEN, NEATH, SA10 6UN
274 Reviews
Established in 1968

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Established in 1968, we can offer you the benefit of our many years experience in repairing and maintaining most makes of car. Over the years we have built up an enviable reputation for our friendly service, high standards and competitive prices, and have many loyal customers. At Auto Electrical S...

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Keep Driving Auto Ltd
Keep Driving Auto Ltd, Unit 7 St Lukes Court, Swansea, SA1 7ER
101 Reviews

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Here at Keep Driving Auto we provide a first rate, friendly garage service. RAC Approved, Serving the Swansea area, located in Llansamlet within easy reach of both the city Centre and Swansea Enterprise Park.

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Merlin Auto Services
Magdelene Street, Merlins Bridge, Haverfordwest, SA61 1JJ
162 Reviews
Established since 2002

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If you bring your car to us you'll be guaranteed an excellent service and a job well done. You can rely on our experienced and friendly mechanics at Merlin Auto Services for a range of vehicle services. From servicing and MOT tests to DPF cleaning and tyres, we do it all. We have the dealer level eq...

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 Wales

Wales is a compact, mountainous country, and its landscape and history are a draw for leisure drivers and tourists. Whether you’re in Snowdonia, the Gower peninsula, Cardiff or the Brecon Beacons, BookMyGarage will find you the best service provider at the best price.

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Head Gasket Inspection