StockAFcivic

Hey guys so recently My head gasket blew on my car, I was wondering should I bite the 1500 dollar bullet or try the sealer, because I've been told that the sealer works about 80% of the time, so I don't want to take the chance. Would love feedback

Colin42

Do not use the sealer, you will mess up countless other components in your engine and cooling system if you do. Do the job properly and use Honda parts.

Another user on here used some type of sealer and screwed up all sorts of thing on his car.

Again do not use sealer, do it properly with Honda parts.

RustyShackle

$1500 seems high for a head gasket - anything else in that estimate?

StockAFcivic

Well the water pump is included as well in that

xRiCeBoYx

iTrader: (22)

1500 sounds about normal for a shop to do it for you

Wankenstein

The head and block should be inspected with a precision level and feeler gauges to check for flatness. If the engine has overheated there's a good possibility the cylinder head is warped and will be brought to a machine shop to be milled to proper flatness. The estimate you were given most likely includes machine shop milling. It may also include new valve stem seals. The machine shop should also inspect for cylinder head cracks, hot tank (clean) the cylinder head and check for valve leaks.

Also, their estimate should include a coolant (antifreeze) change, intake manifold gasket and possibly a cam seal. Ask them if it will include a valves adjustment.

ezone

Hell no on sealer.


$1500 sounds low. What shortcuts does that include? What's missing?

StockAFcivic

Well I'm unsure I only had gotten the estimate today, and was a bit more pissed because of how much money I've already just spent on my car, but aside from that at this point would it be cheaper to do an engine swap with a used, low mile d17a1 than to try and fix the problems with the engine currently?

Wankenstein

If you can install the engine yourself then yes it would be cheaper..if you can't then no it will not. How many miles on the current engine?
If the compression is good, no oil leaks or other issues on the current engine and the only issue is the head gasket than it just has one variable to resolve. If you purchase a used engine you might run into more than one variable.

Ask the mechanic that gave you the estimate everything that's involved within the estimate. Ask about their labor warranty and that of the machine shop if they use one. Have everything put in writing including the parts.

5.0Thunder

What i've found out lately is that these cars are old/cheap enough to where they aren't worth paying a shop for complex jobs anymore. If you cheap out on the shop labor, you'll get poor results. Usually better to put the money into genuine honda replacement parts and do the work yourself with the help of the forum.

ezone

Head gasket failures are dead common and totally expected on this engine.
Any used engine is very likely to need a head gasket too.
You're back to square one.
Your move, Slim.

StockAFcivic

Currently right now we are gonna remove the head, and see whether it will be worth/lasting to get it machined back to level, if not we may do an engine replacement with another d17a1 I will keep you guys updated on the progression, just allow a few days

StockAFcivic

If we do do an engine swap we will replace most parts (water pump, head gasket, timing belt, etc) because it would be more worth while

Wankenstein

Did your mechanic at least do a dry and possibly wet compression test to find out if there's any compression leaks (specifically pistons compression rings) before removing the head?...