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[humbucker]

take a v6, 3.0/3.2 or otherwise with a one bank HG failure (im talking steam out of exhaust failure, not an oil cooler).

i see time and time again 'HG failure so scrapping/breaking car' on OOF. is it really that terminal? i mean, heads off, skim, new gaskets and engine clean and its back to normal again isnt it? is it the job too big to warrant fixing, or is it really that the engine is too far gone with an HG failure? some of the cars ive seen on here  have been pretty decent, seems a shame for them to go to the scrapyard in the sky for something repairable...

or are we talking likely piston damage etc, how would you know if that were the case?

if you were doing it yourself this would be a fairly cost effective fix wouldnt it? (i talk from experience of paying VXL to do my omega and on the other side of the coin i did my cavalier v6 myself) 

[hoofing it]

If you done a V6 cavvy then the mig should be easier more space to work unlike the cavvy.
I say fix it mate

[Jimbob]

Its a weekend job, and £100 odd for someone competant to do both HG's
Various gaskets, bolts, maybe stem seals, cam cover gaskets.


Costs go up the more you replace,
Like may make sense to do Cambelt, Thermostat, oil cooler, Dis, Leads, Plugs etc etc etc as you are there with such easy access

Mark did mine (twice  ) to sort a coolant leak - Core plug and Pass HG
Just wish we hadnt replaced that cambelt kit now 

[andyc]

Done mine without a problem, well apartfrom 4 snapped exhaust downipe studs.

As i aslo had to swap the rad i took it and the condensor out which means you can get in the engine bay

Cheers
Andy

[humbucker]

im thinkin of an engine rebuild so wondered if HG could in some way render an engine beyond saving? how would you know if piston damage would have occurred?

[humbucker]

If you done a V6 cavvy then the mig should be easier more space to work unlike the cavvy

no way! the cavalier is so much easier to work on because you've got so much MORE room; none of the toys to fill up the space! 

[Marks DTM Calib]

If you done a V6 cavvy then the mig should be easier more space to work unlike the cavvy

no way! the cavalier is so much easier to work on because you've got so much MORE room; none of the toys to fill up the space! 

There is nothing in it to be honest.

about 10 hours start to finish to do both heads on an Omega....that includes new manifold gaskets etc

[humbucker]

yeah id do the works as i did on my cavalier, i just wonder if there is ever an instance where an HG failure means the engine is beyond repair. what tell tale signs are there of, say, piston damage? (not that piston damage means its beyond repair but just wondering what symptoms this might throw up)

[Marks DTM Calib]

yeah id do the works as i did on my cavalier, i just wonder if there is ever an instance where an HG failure means the engine is beyond repair. what tell tale signs are there of, say, piston damage? (not that piston damage means its beyond repair but just wondering what symptoms this might throw up)

The answer would be yes....if you cant do it yourself 

[Andy H]

I can't imagine a failed headgasket causing piston damage :-/

The first thing that seems to happen is that the piston gets a steam clean 

I suppose if one ignored the symptoms then the mating face of the cylinder head could be damaged but it would be easy enough to get the head skimmed (or a good replacement head)

In extremis one might keep driving without any coolant and cook the engine but one probably wouldn't admit to doing that 

[humbucker]

i did read somewhere that anti freeze in a bore through an HG failure can cause an immense amount of damage (corrosion etc)...

[Road Hog Mad]

someone said putting egg in your coolant fixes it

[humbucker]

 :-?

i think i'll stick with 'off with its heads'... hehehe!