Head gasket repair cost is one of the most expensive automotive repairs you can ever undertake. The cost amounts to thousands of dollars due to the complexity of removing and reassembling the related engine components for a successful repair.
Meanwhile, the job is not for any regular DIYer who’s enthusiastic about fixing minor faults in their vehicle. It is specifically a job reserved for professionals. Hence, the labor cost is far more than the cost of the parts.
However, if you have a faulty or blown head gasket that needs a replacement, carefully study this article to ascertain your blown head gasket repair cost, depending on your vehicle’s make and model.
Head Gasket Repair and Replacement Cost
Head gasket repair can be very tricky and time-consuming because of the technicalities required to remove the engine parts and reassemble them methodically. This is a major reason why the repair is costly.
However, a glimpse of how much your car’s head gasket replacement costs will help you create a budget for undertaking the task as soon as possible.
Therefore, carefully go through the table below to see the head gasket parts and labor costs for various car models and engine types. It covers a Chevy Cruze head gasket repair cost, a VW Passat head gasket repair cost, a Nissan Altima head gasket repair cost, etc.
In the year 2023, the cost of replacing a cylinder head gasket ranges from $ 1,000 to $ 3,000, amounting to an average repair cost of $1500. If you’re wondering about the expenses involved in head gasket repair, this is an idea of what to expect.
| Car Models | Engine Types | Parts Cost (Approximately) | Labor Cost (Approximately) | Total Cost |
| 2011 Chevrolet Cruze | 1.8L four-cylinder engine | $360 | $1,179 | $1,539 |
| 2011 BMW 325i | 3.0L six-cylinder engine | $1,313 | $2,565 | $3,878 |
| 2014 BMW X1
VW Passat |
2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine | $575
$589 |
$2,595
$1,206 |
$3,170
$1,795 |
| Acura Integra | 200-hp turbocharged 1.5L four-cylinder engine | $856 | $833 | $1,689 |
| 2015 Buick Encore | turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder | $403 | $645 | $1,048 |
| 2011 Buick Lucerne | 3.9-liter V6 engine | $976 | $722 | $1,698 |
| Honda Civic | 158-hp 2.0L four-cylinder engine | $682 | $1,297 | $1,979 |
| Toyota Camry | 2.5-liter 4-Cylinder engine | $756 | $1,576 | $2,333 |
| Ford Fiesta | turbocharged 1.0L three-cylinder engine | $377 | $1,521 | $1,898 |
| Chevy Silverado 1500 | 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 engine | $787 | $915 | $1,702 |
| Nissan Altima | 2.0-liter Variable Compression Turbo engine | $711 | $1,504 | $2,215 |
Related FAQs
Can I drive a car with a blown head gasket?
The straightforward answer is “Yes!” However, driving your car with a blown head gasket is not advisable. This is because the issue can degenerate to a point where your engine will be greatly damaged.
Meanwhile, severe engine damage will eventually result in huge financial implications when reviving the engine. Therefore, once you notice a blown head gasket, ensure to fix it immediately.
What is the cheapest way to fix a head gasket?
Using a head gasket sealer is the cheapest way to fix your vehicle’s head gasket issue. This repair strategy can save you a lot of money because buying and applying the sealer personally are relatively cheaper than fixing the issue at a technician’s workshop.
Therefore, if you have a blown head gasket, ensure to implement a home-fix strategy by using a head gasket sealer and doing the job by yourself. However, it’s worth noting that a head gasket sealer cannot fix a major leak or severely burnt gasket.
Is it better to replace the head gasket or engine?
Whether to replace your car’s head gasket or engine depends on the kind of problem you’re dealing with. For instance, if your vehicle suffers from severe electrical and engine components damage, including the head gasket, replacing the engine may be best for you.
However, if the issue is related to a blown head gasket, getting a new replacement for the head gasket should rectify the problem.
How long will a car last with a blown head gasket?
A car with a blown head gasket may not last more than one month, depending on the vehicle type and engine. Ignoring a head gasket issue can degenerate into something more severe and damage your car’s engine.
So, it would be best to fix a blown head gasket before the issue escalates. Generally, repairing faulty components at their initial stage will prevent the issue from escalating to a major problem.
Is a head gasket a big job?
Of course, a head gasket is a big job because the component’s function cuts across the combustion aspect, as well as the coolant passage areas. The head gasket seals your engine’s combustion chamber where the air-fuel mixture occurs.
The component also seals the areas that your engine’s coolant goes through in the process of expelling the heat capable of causing engine overheating in your car. So, fixing such a component is complex work.
Why is replacing a head gasket expensive?
Replacing a head gasket is expensive due to the labor cost charged by professional auto technicians to fix the problem. In other words, the cost of the parts is nothing much compared to the labor cost.
The reason for the high discrepancy between the parts and labor costs is due to the time-consuming effort it takes to remove the engine head and replace the blown gasket and other damaged components.
Can you replace the head gasket without removing the engine?
Yes, it is possible to replace your vehicle’s head gasket without removing the engine. Since the head gasket is placed between the engine block and the head cylinder, you can replace the component by removing only the head cylinder. However, on some vehicles, you may not be able to replace the head gasket without removing the engine from the engine compartment.
How many head gaskets does a car have?
Typically, cars are built with one or two head gaskets, depending on the number of head cylinders. Engines with a single-head cylinder have one head gasket and engines with two-head cylinders have two head gaskets. Also, there are various types of head gaskets depending on the vehicle’s engine.
For instance, the most common type of head gasket is the multi-layer head gasket with two or three steel layers that are bonded with adhesive.
How hard is replacing a head gasket?
Replacing a head gasket is arguably one of the most difficult automotive repair tasks you can ever attempt, especially if you’re not an expert auto technician.
The major reason for the difficulty is that the task requires removing critical engine parts, cleaning critical surfaces, as well as a methodical reassembly and replacement of engine components. However, you can stop a minor head gasket leak by simply adding a head sealant to the motor oil.
Can you replace a head gasket yourself?
Personally, replacing your car’s head gasket is possible. However, it is an extremely tasking job to do, especially for the average DIYer. That’s why it is advisable to contact a professional auto technician to do the job because of the technicalities involved.
Fixing a head gasket costs around $1,000 – $2,000 or more, depending on the vehicle’s make and model. For instance, a Honda Civic head gasket repair cost slightly varies from a Ford Fiesta head gasket repair cost.
Final Words
The cost of replacing some vehicle models’ head gaskets has been highlighted above in this article. However, irrespective of their varying costs, one common factor is the fact that labor costs exceed parts costs to a large extent.
The reason for the discrepancy is not farfetched. It is simply due to the complicated nature of fixing a blown head gasket.
Therefore, if you have a faulty or blown head gasket, kindly verify if your vehicle’s head gasket repair cost is captured in the table above and create a budget to fix it as soon as possible.
