Head Gasket Inquiries
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Member
Joined: 05-18-2013
Posts: 53
From: Pittsburgh, Pa
Head Gasket Inquiries
I own a 2006 HHR with 33,000 miles. I bought it new off of the showroom floor. I heard that at around 50,000 miles that the head gaskets blow. Is this true? I have babied this vehicle it's whole life and it's always been garage kept. I have also heard that it's easier to just change the engine rather than fix the head gasket. That makes no sense to me. Any info is appreciated. Thanks
Platinum Member
Joined: 04-09-2006
Posts: 7,043
From: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Moved to it's own thread rather than hijack the previous one.
Yes it is true that you heard that.
But no, as per Donbrew said, it is not a true statement. Best advice - do not let that person who told you that anywhere near your car. :)
Yes it is true that you heard that.
But no, as per Donbrew said, it is not a true statement. Best advice - do not let that person who told you that anywhere near your car. :)
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Joined: 01-23-2009
Posts: 26,532
From: Fredericksburg,VA
Re: fix or replace.
As was talked about in the thread you originally posted in; a New head gasket will cost about $1000 a Used engine will run about $2000 installed. Close enough that you have to do cost/benefit analysis.
As was talked about in the thread you originally posted in; a New head gasket will cost about $1000 a Used engine will run about $2000 installed. Close enough that you have to do cost/benefit analysis.
Senior Member
Joined: 06-20-2011
Posts: 737
From: Savanna Illinois
If your handy at all with a wrench and have a place to do the work replacing a head gasket really isn't that hard to do.
Of course since you are going to be taking it so far apart it would be silly not to replace other parts while it is apart. Like the water pump and timing chain, timing chain guides, and gears.
These other parts will cost you more money and take a little more time but I think it would be worth the extra time, money, and effort. Also find a place local to you that can inspect the head for cracks with magnaflux.
My local Chevy dealer seemed to think that just replacing the head gasket, and none of the other stuff I wanted done, would cost me just over $1,500.00. I decided that was to much so I ordered parts from various vendors on eBay. I got the water pump from Auto Zone. I doubt I had a total of $200.00 in parts including all the extra things I wanted done.
I started the job and my back promptly went out so my younger brother finished while I recuperated. The job was delayed a few days while we sent the head out to be magnafluxed. While it was gone he installed the water pump and chain guides. Once the head got back the job was finished in just a few hours time.
Of course the head gasket job did not hold. I was going to order more parts and try again but my kid put a rod out the bottom of the engine because she did not keep the cooling system filled while she was using the HHR while I fixed her car.
Replacing the engine ended up costing me a bit over 2K. I lack the facility and tools to do full engine replacements these days so I had to hire that part. The shop that swapped engines for me let me take the dead engine home to look at. When I ripped down the broken engine I found a bad spot in the engine block where the metal had become very porous, I'm sure that's where the oil and antifreeze were getting mixed.
Of course since you are going to be taking it so far apart it would be silly not to replace other parts while it is apart. Like the water pump and timing chain, timing chain guides, and gears.
These other parts will cost you more money and take a little more time but I think it would be worth the extra time, money, and effort. Also find a place local to you that can inspect the head for cracks with magnaflux.
My local Chevy dealer seemed to think that just replacing the head gasket, and none of the other stuff I wanted done, would cost me just over $1,500.00. I decided that was to much so I ordered parts from various vendors on eBay. I got the water pump from Auto Zone. I doubt I had a total of $200.00 in parts including all the extra things I wanted done.
I started the job and my back promptly went out so my younger brother finished while I recuperated. The job was delayed a few days while we sent the head out to be magnafluxed. While it was gone he installed the water pump and chain guides. Once the head got back the job was finished in just a few hours time.
Of course the head gasket job did not hold. I was going to order more parts and try again but my kid put a rod out the bottom of the engine because she did not keep the cooling system filled while she was using the HHR while I fixed her car.
Replacing the engine ended up costing me a bit over 2K. I lack the facility and tools to do full engine replacements these days so I had to hire that part. The shop that swapped engines for me let me take the dead engine home to look at. When I ripped down the broken engine I found a bad spot in the engine block where the metal had become very porous, I'm sure that's where the oil and antifreeze were getting mixed.
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