Head Cylinder Gasket Repair -Casa or Autoshop?

**Skidrow** · July 31st, 2007 02:22 PM

Hello. My mechanic diagnosed that I need to have my lynx's head cylinder gasket replaced because the engine is draining water from the lynx's reserve tank every now and then. The mechanic also advised that there might be a need to machine shop the cylinder block. Is it better to have it serviced at the casa or just some credible autoshops around? Will it have any effect or bearing on the engine if the job done was not good? Please help again. Thanks.

OT: The lynx recently had an overheat and this was (as the mechanic said) one of the cause of the problem. TIA ...

**OTEP** · July 31st, 2007 02:35 PM

Losing coolant does not necessarily mean a head problem.

Try to search the other overheat threads here.

Do you see vapor/smoke coming out of the tailpipe when the engine is at operating temp?

Start with the simple things first like your radiator cap (it caused the coolant loss and overheat in our MB100).

If it really is a head problem, a reputable shop or mechanic can fix that (e.g. speedyfix, autotechnika, etc.). The casa is a safe choice (they can offer a longer warranty) but you'll be paying up front. Not all casas are the same so better read the reviews at the local Ford Club forum ( www.fordclubph.com ?).

**Galactus** · July 31st, 2007 02:49 PM

The surest sign of a cylinder head gasket problem is pag naghalo na ang tubig at langis sa radiator, kulay Milo sya, at mabilis mag-overheat ang makina.

Kung malinis pa ang tubig sa rad, then look for other possible causes of coolant loss (butas na rad, leak sa hose, tagas sa water pump, etc). At any rate, if you can afford it, go casa. Otherwise, kahit talyer kaya yan. But I'm sure, isa-subcon ng casa ang machining, kasi bihira ang casang may sariling machine shop.

**Skidrow** · July 31st, 2007 02:54 PM

Originally Posted by OTEP

Losing coolant does not necessarily mean a head problem.

Try to search the other overheat threads here.

Do you see vapor/smoke coming out of the tailpipe when the engine is at operating temp?

Start with the simple things first like your radiator cap (it caused the coolant loss and overheat in our MB100).

If it really is a head problem, a reputable shop or mechanic can fix that (e.g. speedyfix, autotechnika, etc.). The casa is a safe choice (they can offer a longer warranty) but you'll be paying up front. Not all casas are the same so better read the reviews at the local Ford Club forum ( www.fordclubph.com ?).

Thanks sir Otep.. I dont see vapor coming out of my tailpipe.. I also had my radioator and radiator hoses checked for any leaks..And the lynx does not overheat anymore (after repairing the hose). The autoshop I went to quoted me with a 2,000+ labor which will take about half a day. I am not decided on having this repaired because I need to have more opinions and feedbacks from fellow tsikoteers. And I am skeptical about the outcome of the repair at the moment.. Thanks again for your inputs...

**OTEP** · July 31st, 2007 03:01 PM

If it's any consolation, I drove a vehicle with a damaged head gasket for more than 5 years without any major incident. It just ate coolant and oil from time to time.

Sold it without having the problem repaired.

**Skidrow** · July 31st, 2007 03:09 PM

Thanks sir Otep and sir Galactus..at least I will have peace of mind because I know it is not a major concern as of the moment...

**4JGtootsie** · July 31st, 2007 03:36 PM

Skidrow,

How severe was your overheating?
Saan sa gauge umabot?
How long was it that way?

**rogie** · July 31st, 2007 04:05 PM

sir, baka naman punong puno yung resevoir tank mo kaya umaapaw.
is this happen after mo magtravel tapos off ng engine?

ganyan din 7g galant ko kapag yung level ng water sa resevoir tank almost nasa max level... pag off ko ng engine umaapaw... kaya i make sure nasa mid lang ng max and low yung water level ko... ayus solved na.

**Skidrow** · July 31st, 2007 04:25 PM

Originally Posted by 4JGtootsie

Skidrow,

How severe was your overheating?
Saan sa gauge umabot?
How long was it that way?

Sir umabot sa pinakadulo (sa may "H") but it was only for about 5 mins. I stopped to let it cool down. Nung malamig na yung makina, tsinek ko yung tubig sa radiator at sa reserve ubos na kasi may leak pala sa isang radiator hose sa baba. I had it the hose fixed and the radiator overhauled.

From then on, hindi naman na nag ooverheat pero napansin ko lang lagi ako nagdadagdag ng tubig sa reserve tank for every trip kasi nagbabawas. May phobia na kasi ako kaya yun ang una ko ng tsinetsek.

*sir rogie: hindi naman puno yung reserve tank..usually, halfway lang yung water level. But after every trip (say 10 kms), nakakalahati na yung laman ng reserve tank. HIndi naman siya dati ganito prior to the overheating. Nung nag overheat saka na lumabas ang ganito problema.

Thanks.