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Quickly find and book Head Gasket Repairs in Milton Keynes

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

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Head Gasket Inspection

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

4.6* on Trustpilot

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

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14,116,779 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.
S H Service Centre @ MK1 Logo
S H Service Centre @ MK1
Unit D, Lyon Road, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, MK1 1EX
321 Reviews
Class7 MOTs available by appointmentElectric car servicing hubService Plans From £16 Per Month

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S H Service Centre @ MK1 offer a full servicing, repair and genuine parts replacement service for all makes, models and ages of car. We also maintain, repair and carry out re-gassing of your air-conditioning. This friendly garage covers all areas near Milton Keynes.

ARDEN PARK GARAGE SERVICES LTD Logo
ARDEN PARK GARAGE SERVICES LTD
UNIT 3 WATERSIDE PARK, OLD WOLVERTON ROAD, WOLVERTON, MILTON KEYNES, MK12 5NP
153 Reviews
No services on Saturdays-MOT'S only

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ARDEN PARK GARAGE SERVICES LTD

Wolverton Car & Tyre Services Logo
Wolverton Car & Tyre Services
5 GLYN SQUARE, WOLVERTON, Milton keynes, MK12 5JQ
196 Reviews
BMW,Mercedes,Audi & VW service providersWe can update online service recordsMOT testing - Class 4,5 & 7 vehicles.

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We are a BMW & Mercedes independent service provider, we can update the online service record via the dealer service portal. BMW idrive KEY data and online portal will be updated. MERCEDES online digital service record will be updated. (All online service prices are a guide, BMW & Mercedes prices w...

bridge autos mk ltd Logo
bridge autos mk ltd
10 Duncombe Street, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, MK2 2LY
59 Reviews
£24.99 MOT With Full And Major ServiceSame Day MOT AvailableGive Us A Call For Bodywork

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Bridge autos mk ltd Offer Mot, repairs, tracking, a, Tyres ,Servicing, & Bodywork.

QCD Vehicle Centre Logo
QCD Vehicle Centre
Unit 1 Southlands Farm, Stoke Road, Stoke Hammond, MK17 9BN
79 Reviews

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We invest in the latest technologies to provide a high-level of service for our customers in Milton Keynes. Our offering includes convenient hassle-free online bookings for vehicle servicing, maintenance, diagnostics, MOT's & Tyre's. Our workshop located in Milton Keynes is equipped with the latest...

Bridge Autocare Logo
Bridge Autocare
3 Bridgeturn Ave, Wolverton, Milton Keynes, MK12 5QL
8 Reviews

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Let us take care of all your mechanical needs. Bridge Autocare offers quality vehicle maintenance services in Milton Keynes. We have a team of skilled technicians who only use the latest diagnostic tools and equipment. Our technicians receive ongoing training to deliver the highest quality of servi...

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. That's why you must book a head gasket repair promptly if you notice any of the following warning signs.

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 Milton Keynes

Designed originally to accommodate London overspill and housing congestion, Milton Keynes or ‘MK’ as it is locally known, has shed its concrete new town image and flowered into a creative and cultural hub with a thriving music, arts and literature scene.

Milton Keynes’ excellent shopping facilities keep footfall high at thecentre:mk which boasts over 300 shops and is one of the longest indoor shopping centre malls in Europe. The town has also become an extreme sports hotspot. You can water-ski, wakeboard and enjoy other water sports on Willen Lake, or head to Xscape for the UK's longest indoor real-snow ski and boarding slope, along with some superb indoor climbing facilities.

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Head Gasket Inspection