blown head gasket

[kenny-40]

hi all
just been told head gasket has blown
can any body tell me is this a diy job or more of a ford job
plus can any body give me a rough guess at cost of repair plus what else would adviable the change at time while having head gasket done
thanks inadvance kenny
p.s
its a 1998 ford explorer on a r reg plate 4008 cc

 

[unclemeat]

It is only a DIY job if you have experience tools and the desire. You have to pull everything off the the top of the engine, right doun to the block and pistons. I would estimate an experienced mechanic could do the job in 6 to 10 hours. You may need to machine the heads if they are warped. You may want to have the heads reworked once they are out. I would use OEM or equal quality aftermarket gaskets. OEM gasket kit is like $270 US retail.

 

[Howard]

I hope they are right. That is going to one expensive job. Get quotes from more than one garage. If the engine has a lot of miles it might almost be worth a re-built one.

 

[aggyaggy]

Think carefully before deciding to take it to a UK Ford dealer, they don't know very much about Explorers.

 

[kenny-40]

thanks guys

thanks for advise guys been qouted £1200 thats for both heads to be taken off and skimmed also left cat gone but garage are doing both on warranty
and also timimng chain tensioner
thanks again

 

[marragtop]

What is the vehicle doing to make you think you have a blown gasket? Is it leaking water in the oil, overheating, or what? Has a leak test been performed?

 

[Crizz]

If you have no power loss and only water in oil or oil in water, you can try to fix the prob with "Bar´s Leak". Had the prob with oil in water on my 4.0 OHV, "bar´s" did a good job.

Guess changing head gaskets on the 4.0 OHC will be more difficult than the 4.0 OHV because of the timing chains / rails.

 

[kenny-40]

hi

was water in oil
also found out its not cat now but over fueling also noticed oil leak from bell housing
god it just seems to go on and on
one part after anothershould have kept the bmw 530d