Head skimmed

Pabs81 · Post by **Pabs81** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 1:40 pm

Plan to collect my Bongo from the garage this weekend. The head gasket went and has just been skimmed.

However the invoice from the machine shop includes an item listed as 'Refit PCC' to which there is no explaination. The garage are currently obtaining an answer.

A reliable friend believes that 'PCC' may refer to 'Pre-combustion Chamber'. Is this relevant to the Bongo?

Obviously wary of shelling out for unnecessary work, many thanks in advance for your help.

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 2:01 pm

The pre-combustion chamber is located at the cylinder head and is connected to the engine cylinder by small holes. It occupies 40% of the total cylinder volume. During the compression stroke, air from the main cylinder enters the pre-combustion chamber. At this moment, fuel is injected into the pre-combustion chamber and combustion begins. Pressure increases and the fuel droplets are forced through the small holes into the main cylinder, resulting in a very good mix of the fuel and air. The bulk of the combustion actually takes place in the main cylinder. This type of combustion chamber has multi-fuel capability because the temperature of the pre-chamber vaporizes the fuel before the main combustion event occurs.

Pabs81 · Post by **Pabs81** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 2:45 pm

Thanks very much for the superb response.

Bad news for me is that it is a solid part of the invoice. Still, is the £150 justified for the work?

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 2:50 pm

I wish i could answer that for you pabs... I can't take credit for the earlier post i'm afraid, i spent a half hour or so scouring search engines for a answer most relevent to a bongo's diesel lump. I'm sure that somebody that has re-fitted their own cylinder head (more qualified than me) can shed some more light on the issue for you.

mister munkey · Post by **mister munkey** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 3:50 pm

Sounds like a good price to me, as long as they haven't skimped on cheap parts & you get a useable warranty.

Pabs81 · Post by **Pabs81** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 3:57 pm

Maybe......

Wasn't clear before. The £150 pays for the PCC refit alone.

Total bill to get the van back on the road is about £650 excluding parts.

mister munkey · Post by **mister munkey** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 4:04 pm

Ouch!!

I had a complete genuine mazda head, new water pump, cambelt change & some other bits & bobs done when I first got mine. That came to £1100 including parts, labour & vat. Around £300 of that was labour.

Six - fifty plus sounds a tad excessive to me for a skim.

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 4:05 pm

I have heard of "all in" prices from £800-£1500 for a head.

Pabs81 · Post by **Pabs81** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 4:16 pm

£650 is the total price for the job including skim, labour and the oil and coolant.

Parts were £150, including head gasket set, oil filter and cam belt etc.

So £800 down as the result of a perished pipe!

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 4:23 pm

As prices go..I've heard worse! The main thing is you'll be back on the road for this weekend, just make sure you grab that guarantee!

Pabs81 · Post by **Pabs81** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 4:37 pm

Cheers.

Has certainly made me more concious of the importance of checking the pipes more regularly.

Enjoy the Easter weekend.

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 4:49 pm

And you mate! Keep checking those pipes! One of the prime candidates for failure is where the bleed hose (often) rests on the alternator

I have sleeved the said hose with a scrap bit of garden hose to help stop the chafing.

Pabs81 · Post by **Pabs81** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 4:54 pm

Like the tip, will be sure to put that one to practice.

Thanks again.

missfixit70 · Post by **missfixit70** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 5:59 pm

Fit a low coolant alarm too & a mason (if you haven't already), so the temperature gauge actually does what it's supposed to.

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 8:57 pm

missfixit70 wrote:Fit a low coolant alarm too & a mason (if you haven't already), so the temperature gauge actually does what it's supposed to.

2nd that (as usual!). I presume they are confident that skimming is all that is required and that the head is not cracked. You've a right to some guarantee on the work as it is their responsibility as profesisonals to have made the right judgement call. But the bill sounds like its in the ball park as long as its an effective and lasting repair. And I presume they know Bongos and how to bleed the coolant system?

Good luck and hope all is well now the work is done

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