Head / head gasket replacement Edinburgh

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bongojoe
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Head / head gasket replacement Edinburgh

Post by bongojoe » Sun Nov 22, 2020 1:13 pm

On Friday I was told by my Bongo-friendly garage (Logan's Garage, Edinburgh) that my head gasket has gone.

I heard a couple of loud knocks on the last journey home, then lost coolant and temperature started rising and had to get towed home. Garage has checked for coolant leaks, bled and refilled. They've told me massive pressure building up in the cooling system when the engine runs, coolant gushing out of the expansion tank, engine temperature quickly rising past the 11 o'clock mark.

They don't have the time or inclination to carry out the work, which is a shame as they've been excellent at servicing and sorting out all my other problems since I bought the beast.

So, I'm looking for some other garage recommendations in or around Edinburgh. [Edit: have accessed the garage list in the member's area but other recommendations still welcomed.]

I have another trustworthy garage nearby where I took all my pre-Bongo cars but I don't know how well they know these vehicles. So my second question is how specialist a job is it? Will any decent mechanic be able to carry out the work?

And is there anything I should be aware of before I ask people to quote for the work? I believe for example that a cracked head is often the cause rather than the gasket? And what's a reasonable price to pay?

The van's otherwise in fairly good nick and happy to make the investment but want to make sure it's done properly.

All advice very gratefully received!
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rita
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Re: Head / head gasket replacement Edinburgh

Post by rita » Sun Nov 22, 2020 2:42 pm

There is nothing complicated in changing the cylinder heads your mechanic should be able to do it no problem.
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Re: Head / head gasket replacement Edinburgh

Post by Ian » Sun Nov 22, 2020 2:44 pm

Logans are a very good garage so it's a pity they don't want to do the job. But I can understand why. Apart from being very busy they've already drained, bled and refilled the system once. It's a right old faff. And because there is a 99% possibility that it is the cylinder head that has cracked, they'd have the hassle of fitting a new one and then bleeding the system again.

There's no reason why a "normal" garage/mechanic can't undertake the work. The problem is convincing them that the Bongo cylinder head/coolant system is unlike anything they have come across before. Most mechanics don't like being told how to do their job, but if you can supply them with a workshop manual and convince them to watch the 3 part Bleeding Bongos video on YouTube then they should be able to do it.

Another point to remember is don't buy a cheap cylinder head. Mazdabongo.com or the club shop sell quality replacements; expect to pay about £600. The job itself may take a couple of days (10 hours?) for someone who is not familiar with the Bongo. I'd budget for about £1,200, but while you are getting it done I'd also get the radiator, waterpump and the main hoses replaced, and if it is due a cam belt change get that done while everything is stripped down.

Another possibility is to get it collected on a flat bed truck and taken to someone in Englandshire that knows what they are doing. DerwentHaugh motors in Newcastle will do this but obviously it adds to the bill. But at the end of it all you will end up with a Bongo that may be good for another 10 years (rust permitting)!

Let us know how you get on.
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bongojoe
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Re: Head / head gasket replacement Edinburgh

Post by bongojoe » Sun Nov 22, 2020 7:24 pm

Thanks Ian, that's really helpful.

It is a shame about Logan's but they are inundated with MOT work (partly due to the six month holiday we were given at the start of lockdown) which I think is simpler for them and probably more profitable than these more fiddly / unpredictable jobs!

There are a couple of other garages on the list for Edinburgh which I'll give a call, and try my non-Bongo garage. It's a family run business and I got to know them well, and I'm sure they'd listen re. the correct way to approach the coolant system.

It sounds like you're suggesting I should replace the head regardless? Or should I let the garage take a call on head vs. gasket when they open it up?

Agree on getting the other work done at the same time. We had the whole thing resprayed, new rear arches, one new front wing etc., in 2018 and I was planning to get a few more years out of it yet—so happy to make the investment.
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Re: Head / head gasket replacement Edinburgh

Post by Bob » Sun Nov 22, 2020 7:29 pm

It's rare for the gasket to fail and not the head.

The head failure may not be obvious unless you are familiar with the Bongo, and given the amount of labour involved I wouldn't be chancing it.

Just a personal view. :wink:
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