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Quickly find and book Head Gasket Repairs in Peterborough

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

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Head Gasket Inspection

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

4.7* on Trustpilot

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

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14,022,395 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.
In n Out Centres - Peterborough Logo
In n Out Centres - Peterborough
4 Phorpes Close, Hampton, Peterborough, PE7 8FZ
117 Reviews
Payment Assist/Paypal Credit availableVideo Authorisation

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IN'n'OUT Autocentres are experts in vehicle servicing, MOT's & repairs. We were established in 2008 and have over 29 autocentres nationwide. All our workshop technicians are trained to the highest standards. Many of whom have joined us from big brand main dealers. They are car enthusiasts and put as...

Marshall Honda Peterborough Logo
Marshall Honda Peterborough
Tyrrell Park, Boongate, Peterborough, PE1 5PT
82 Reviews
0% Interest AvailableFree Visual Health Check & videoManufacturer Trained Technicians

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Honda Peterborough is part of the family run Marshall Motor Group is the largest privately owned dealer group in England with a 105 year history of servicing and repairing all vehicle makes and models to the highest standards at pricing you will be pleasantly surprised at. Marshall recommends the u...

Master Clutch Auto Centre Logo
Master Clutch Auto Centre
Unit 2, Maskew Avenue, Peterborough, PE1 2AS
65 Reviews

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Peterborough based garage with over 12 years of quality auto services. Offers full services of Auto Repairs, Maintenance and MOT's. We realize that you lead a busy life, so we have made it easy for you to drop off your vehicle 24/7. Call branch to confirm drop off Your vehicle

SUPERTREADS AUTOMOTIVE LTD Logo
SUPERTREADS AUTOMOTIVE LTD
UNIT 1 PROVIDENT PLACE, EMPSON ROAD, PETERBOROUGH, PE1 5UU
8 Reviews

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Here at Supertreads Automotive, Peterborough, we put our customers at the heart of everything we have to offer. We are an independent business with great expertise in MOTs, car servicing, wheel alignment, exhausts and more! Our aim is to provide a quality service on a low cost price promise, buildin...

AJR Auto Services Logo
AJR Auto Services
Unit 5/6 Harvester Way, Peterborough, PE1 5UT
43 Reviews
Many years of experienceOur garage is a friendly, local business

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Our garage is a friendly, local business run in the centre of Peterborough that has many years of experience. We put our customers first and that’s why we’re proud to offer extremely high standards of customer service. We offer different services, MOTs and repairs and want to reassure you that you w...

TM CARS LIMITED Logo
TM CARS LIMITED
363 Gladstone street, Peterborough, PE1 2DA
28 Reviews

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Every day when we open our doors at TM Cars in Peterborough our goal is to provide great customer service, by offering affordable cars and vans repair service performed by highly trained technicians at the highest industry standard. By implementing the latest diagnostic equipment and computerized re...

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.

How to be a better driver

Whether you’re driving in Peterborough or further afield, think about road user etiquette. Showing respect for other road users makes driving more pleasant for you and safer for everyone. For example, if you have to make a last minute change of lane, make your request to change clear to the driver who will need to let you in - and signal your thanks if they do. Be ready to abandon the change of lane if they won’t play ball - your safety (and that of other drivers and pedestrians) is more important than getting to your destination in the shortest time possible. When the position is reversed and a driver asks your permission to change lanes, allow them to as long as it is safe. If you get frustrated, avoid using your horn - it won’t improve matters and might make them considerably worse.

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Head Gasket Inspection