Head Gasket Repair Cost

Whilst it may be tempting to put off a repair, you could be in for a more expensive job the longer you ignore a problem with your car's head gasket.

Warning signs including engine overheating and low coolant levels can signal it’s time to book a head gasket repair.

Find out how much this can cost by reading this blog.

Page Contents

How Much Does a Head Gasket Repair Cost by Make?
Why Are Head Gasket Repairs So Expensive?
In Need of a Head Gasket Repair?
FAQs

How Much Does a Head Gasket Repair Cost by Make?

In the UK, a head gasket repair can cost anywhere from around £550 to £1,700.

Take a look at these head gasket repair costs to get an idea of what you can expect to pay for this vital job depending on the car manufacturer.*

Audi = £800 to £1,500

BMW = £800 to £1,500

Ford = £500 to £1,200

Honda = £600 to £1,300

Land Rover = £1,200 to £2,500

Mercedes-Benz = £1,000 to £2,000

Nissan = £400 to £1,000

Toyota = £400 to £1,000

Vauxhall = £500 to £1,200

Volkswagen = £600 to £1,300

*All information in this section based on data taken from Bumper

Why Are Head Gasket Repairs So Expensive?

Whilst the head gasket itself isn’t too costly a part, the job can be expensive as it can take up to 10 hours to complete.

The mechanic needs to disassemble the engine to get to the head gasket.

When you’re paying up to £50 an hour for a mechanic’s time, it’s easy to see how quickly labour costs can ramp up.

Factor in the possibility of a blown head gasket warping your cylinder heads, and you could be looking at up to £900 for the repair.

Whilst this isn’t a cheap job, continuing to drive with a faulty head gasket could cause irreversible damage – costing you more in the long run.

That’s why it really does pay to be proactive about car care!

In Need of a Head Gasket Repair?

Worried about your car’s head gasket? We’re here to make it easy to find a solution to your problem.

When you browse and search with us, you can compare labour costs from local garages to request a visual inspection of your car’s head gasket.

You can filter the search results by price to find the cheapest head gasket repair options near you.

With verified customer reviews of all the garages on our site, you can rely on the experiences of genuine customers to help you pick the best garage for you.

Once the visual inspection is complete, your chosen garage will provide you with an estimate for the repair work.

This is one repair you should leave to the professionals - and you can book your head gasket repair with us online easily, 24/7.

Whether you think your head gasket is blown or leaking, you can count on us to help you book a value-for-money service with a great local garage.

You'll want to have any issues with your head gasket repaired ahead of your MOT test.

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

How Important is a Head Gasket Repair?

Without a functioning head gasket, your car won’t run properly.

Whilst head gasket repairs are expensive, if you have head gasket issues resolved early on, you may be able to avoid paying for a full replacement.

Otherwise, the head gasket could explode, meaning your entire engine could be written off – so it is always better to book a repair at the first sign of trouble.

Can I Repair a Head Gasket at Home?

You should not attempt to repair your car’s head gasket at home. Without the proper training and expertise, you could easily do further damage.

How Often Will I Need to Replace My Head Gasket?

A head gasket is designed to last for 200,000 miles.

Your vehicle may never even need a head gasket repair or replacement if you take good care of your car.

33 replies to "How Much Does a Head Gasket Repair Cost?"

Dazza

April 7th, 2022

I have a little bit of what looks like white smoke coming out of the exhaust in the morning when I start my BMW X5 3.0d 2006 .. but no smoke after that .. it’s like one puff of smoke then that’s it.. ??????

Drew Hickman

April 11th, 2022

Hi Dazza, I assume you are worried about this because you never used to see the smoke. Without seeing the car itself, I can't give an exact answer, but I'll do my best to help! While it is most likely a cold engine in the morning, this smoke could be the first sign of a more serious problem. If it were a cylinder head gasket failure, you may also see a loss of coolant or the coolant gauge not reading correctly. If it were the EGR failing or a problem with the engine breather system, you would also see the Engine Management or Emissions Fault light. If any of these lights come on, I would suggest booking an appointment at a garage as soon as possible. If it is just a puff of smoke you're seeing, but you're still concerned about it, I would suggest that you book a diagnostic check at a garage. They will be able to give you a much more accurate diagnosis and give you the peace of mind you need about the issue. Hope this helps!

Md. Masudur Rahman

September 14th, 2021

My car engine water reduce increasing day by day. As result the engine overheating during the car run. In the mean time i have checked all the parameter except head gasket changing. So i need your valuable comments suggestion in this regards.

September 15th, 2021

Hi Masudur, These are the symptoms of head gasket failure. You don't need to have them all at once for their to be an issue with yours: Bad head gasket symptoms 1. White smoke coming from the tailpipe. 2. Bubbling in the radiator and coolant reservoir. 3. Unexplained coolant loss with no leaks. 4. Milky white coloration in the oil. 5. Engine overheating. However, head gasket failure can be a tough one to diagnose without the correct equipment and know how and you certainly don’t want to run to the expense of replacing it without being sure. A garage will carry out a combustion gas test, also known as a sniff test, which will check for a CO2 leak into the coolant. If the fluid turns yellow, then there is gas present and the gasket is blown. In the case of a misfire or lack of power, they may do a compression test to check for damage to the cylinder head itself. You can buy the kit to carry out a gas leak test, but the cost is often similar in price to what a garage might charge you. So, I would advise you to get the car to a garage and have it properly diagnosed to avoid spending money on unnecessary repairs. Hope this helps :)

Jeff

August 17th, 2022

My expansion tank seemed low so topped up with coolant drove for a time and stopped a minute or so after it just blows the coolant out the heater s not working or A/C no warning lights no smoke no oil cream the milage is 61000 the car is 11reg garage says headgascet has failed would this be possible

August 18th, 2022

Hi Jeff, If you have taken your car to a garage and they believe that the problem is to do with your head gasket, then this is most likely the case. You can use the 'Find a garage' feature on the BookMyGarage website to find a garage near you that can diagnose the issue and give you a second opinion. It is always a smart idea to ask a garage, so that you can stay safe on the road. Hope this helps!

Shabs

September 23rd, 2022

Hi Drew, I have bubbles in my coolant tank but not sure if it’s because it needs a coolant flush/air purge. Do you think this is still a head gasket issue?

Hi Shabs, Bubbles in the coolant is definitely a sign of a blown head gasket - as is white smoke billowing out of the exhaust. You will need to have your vehicle looked at by a mechanic, so that they can diagnose the issue. Always better to stay safe by having things like this checked out. If your car does have a blown head gasket, then it is more likely to overheat - so I wouldn't recommend driving to the garage. Have the mechanic come to you or have your car towed to a garage if possible. Hope this helps!

Kevin Barber

September 27th, 2022

Hi, I have recently blown the head gasket on my Mokka. I was travelling on the motorway and had a loss of power on acceleration. When called AA they diagnosed the HG. Now the problem was I didn't have any indication on the dash that the water was overheating not an engine warning light. Is this a fault or does all the pretty lights only come on when you start the thing? Thanks for help you give by the way.

September 28th, 2022

Hi Kevin, Your dashboard lights should flash on and turn off when you start your vehicle, as the vehicle will do a self-check. If you were looking for changes to your head gasket, it would be the coolant temperature gauge which would show an increase. Have you noticed a slight coolant loss, or have you had to top up your coolant more frequently recently? Likewise, have you noticed that the interior heat has stopped working? All of this could be a sign that something is wrong. If there is an issue with your head gasket, it could cost up to £1000 to fix, depending on the extent of the damage and how long you have kept driving, as this will cause even more damage. Hope this helps!

Pamela Lee

October 9th, 2022

Hello Drew, Hope you are well. I have brown sludge in my water bottle (where the coolent goes). I havent done anything daft like, put oil in there........I know my oil tank is different (ha ha ha). What could this be a sign of? I had my MOT in August 2022 and it passed woth no advisories. I have a 2010 Vauxhall Astra. Pam :o)

October 10th, 2022

Hi Pamela, This could be a sign that there is an issue with your head gasket/that your head gasket may have blown, as it seems like there is oil in the water. It is important that you book in with a garage so that they can take a look at this for you, so that you can stay safe. Hope this helps!

Ruben

October 22nd, 2022

Hi Drew, I drove my car for the last two years knowing that I was loosing Coolant without leaks. Went to different garages including Nissan and the pressure tests passed in all. Two days ago a whistling noise, engine rattling noise and suddenly car doesn't start. Sounds like it. With labour,roughly, how much will I pay for this? I got a Nissan Xtrail 2015, 1.6 diesel. Thanks

October 24th, 2022

Hi Ruben, You may require a new engine if it does not turn over - the engine may have seized due to overheating. The best thing to do would be to have a garage look at the engine for you. A failed engine can cost around £3000 (for parts and labour) to fix - though the cost will also depend on the size of the engine, and the cause of the failure. The cause could be anything from a dead battery to turbo failure, so it is always best to have this checked out by a professional garage so that they can find the source of the problem and do something about this. Hope this helps!

Martin

My transporter dumps coolant. Fill it up, could be three or four days by the time it is below minimum or could be twice In A day I need to fill up. Random. System is pressurised and coolant bubbles back into reservoir. Garage has said a test revealed exhaust gases out of head gasket and could be the leak? They won't do head gaskets anymore though. 😬

October 25th, 2022

Hi Martin, If your vehicle's head gasket has gone, then you will need to have the part replaced. You should also stop driving in the meantime, as continuing to do so could cause more damage to the vehicle as water will mix with oil and could potentially cause the engine to seize. Hope this helps!

Courtney

November 3rd, 2022

Hi the other day i driving my car along the motorway and then when I stopped the car didn’t start again and broke down. The man who come to tow my car said it was my head gasket. Is it normal for the car to not move if it has gone? I didn’t notice any signs beforehand. However the engine sounded as though water was bubbling about 20 minutes before …

November 4th, 2022

Hi Courtney, If your head gasket has gone and caused catastrophic damage to the engine then this can explain why the car isn’t moving. Alternatively, the issue could be a seized engine. The best thing to do would be to have your car looked at by a professional garage, so that they can know for certain. A garage will be able to check your oil to see if it has mixed with water, see if the crank turns, or if they can get anything from turning the key. Hope this helps!

Halvor Hauen

December 13th, 2022

Hei Drew, I’ve been given an estimate of £1500 to £2000 in labour costs to change head gasket on my Mazda cx5. The price is dependent on whether to do the job with engine in or engine out of the car. Are these excessive quotes?

December 14th, 2022

Hi Halvor, It is difficult to say without more information, as this will depend on the nature of the job that is being carried out. Best to ask for a couple quotes if you would like a second opinion. Hope this helps!

Anandu Raj

March 15th, 2023

Hi, I have an issue with my Citroen DS3. After driving it for 30 mins the coolant boils and got spilled out from the reservoir. Upon further inspection, the radiator was found not working. But I am not sure if this is the issue or the head gasket. hoping to get expert advice on this issue. Thanks

March 17th, 2023

Hi Anandu, Your vehicle likely has a coolant flow problem of the engine, potentially a blockage. It would be best if you had your vehicle checked out by a professional garage, as it is hard to diagnose the problem without having a look at the vehicle. Hope this helps!

Michael

February 18th, 2024

HI DREW, I have had a quote for a cylinder head leaking oil it is £2500 does this sound correct and if so will it be worthwhile, I like the car and would like to keep it for a few more years🤞🤞

Eve McPherson

February 19th, 2024

Hi Michael, Costs associated with repairing leaking oil cylinder heads can vary depending on the brand and model. £2,500 does sound reasonable, but you should get a quote from a main dealer so you can benchmark against other quotes. The garage should include the following in the quote: Valve seal replacements, valve steam replacements (if needed), complete cylinder head pressure test, re-skim cylinder head, re-cut the valve to create tight seal, replace all other associated seals, engine oil and filter change, and coolant change. You should get around 3 quotes to be on the safe side. Hope this helps!

Jim

March 20th, 2023

Hi Drew. I have a Mercedes E Class 2010. For a while I have had black oil spotting on my driveway. Ive had it looked at by a local garage and have been told its the rocker cover gasket. I notice you mention milky leaks. Could it still be a rocker cover gasket issue if the drips are very black? Jim Scott

March 21st, 2023

Hi Jim, It would be best to have a full inspection performed at another garage if you feel that the garage has not done what was requested, or if you are still concerned. It is hard to advise or comment on an oil leak issue without seeing the vehicle, as the leak could be caused by a number of issues/parts, such as the rocker cover gasket, diff oil seal, or sump gasket etc. If the oil is milky, then this is a sign of water ingress. However, the black oil spot could indicate a slight leak on the engine, and as the garage has looked at it, most likely the rocker cover gasket. As previously stated, it is incredibly difficult to assess the issue without seeing the vehicle. Best to have your vehicle looked at by a professional garage so that they can provide a full inspection and find the issue for you. Hope this helps!

Sharlene

April 30th, 2024

Ford transit van oil and water mixing to white gunk...if this is head gasket, how much am I looking at for repair

May 2nd, 2024

Hi Sharlene, It does sound like the head gasket has gone, which could require a head gasket replacement and flush of the coolant and engine systems. However, it could also mean a new engine due to overheating. Have you thought about cleaning and flushing the engine and coolant first, to then carry out a coolant and oil pressure test? Worst case if a new engine is required this will be a few thousand pounds. Normally a head gasket replacement can cost around £600 to £1,000 depending on where the work is carried out. Hope this helps!

Tracy

May 15th, 2024

Hi there. I have a 1.6 SEAT leon 2010 ecomotive. I was driving along and it kept juddering, I kept thinking it was me in the wrong gear :) Anyway I pulled over off the road and noticed a white steam coming from the bonnet. I immediately knew this was a problem. I called the RAC who sent out a third party mobile mechanic. The mechanic checked it over and looked in the oil, put his finger in there and said there's water running around the engine and in your oil, it's your head gasket. It's been at the garage for two weeks and they've not had time to look at it yet! I'm getting frustrated because I'd like to know if it is actually the head gasket or potentially something else? What are your thoughts? No other symptoms in the run up to this happening on that day. Heater in car worked but the ac was blowing rather warm!

May 16th, 2024

Hi Tracy, If the technician found oil in the water there is every chance that there is a blown head gasket, though it is hard for us to diagnose without seeing the vehicle. The garage needs to perform a few tests to correctly diagnose the fault. The garage would need to carry out a block test and coolant pressure test. If the head gasket is blown there is also a possibility that the cylinder head would require skimming, and perhaps also the valve seals may need to be replaced etc. The garage really needs to feedback after their diagnosis to understand the extent of the repairs. Please bear in mind that certain associated parts may need replacing when removing the cylinder head, like the water pump, thermostat etc. As part of the cylinder head repair, the oil, oil filter, cylinder head gaskets and coolant will automatically be replaced. You should push the site to at least give you an idea of what is wrong with your vehicle, or have it lifted to another garage that can look at it quicker than the current one. Hope this helps!

Karoly Mitro

August 1st, 2024

Hi Drew, My car (Vauxhall Insignia) is loosing coolant very fast, and after stopping the car there is a massive leak coming down from under the engine space. Obviously, since it is loosing coolant fast the engine starts to overheat. Is this a definite sign of a Head Gas Kit issue? Many thanks.

August 5th, 2024

Hi Karoly, It could be the head gasket, but it may also be a damaged or faulty coolant pipe that is leaking. Normally with a head gasket issue you will see white smoke and notice slight leakage. You will need to have the vehicle inspected at a professional garage to know for certain and have the issue fixed. Hope this helps!