Hi there i am new on the forum. i have just bought a 56 plate fabia vrs, i am already having major problems.

the car is showing all the common symptoms of needing a new head gasket. my main worry is that because the car is still being driven until it is fixed next week that the head will warp is this likely ? any help would be really appreciated

cheers.

tev

I'm afraid the head has probably already warped so you're unlikely to make it any worse.

You should ALWAYS check a head for truth before replacing the head gasket since that gasket failure is usually caused by an overheating incident warping the head, not the other way round!

If you don't overheat the engine by let the water level drop too low and drive the car steady then it should be OK, unless the head is already distorted.

cheers for the replies. the car is being done by a skoda garage so i am assuming they will check the head for warp. so do you guys reckon that it is highly likely for the head to be warped already and need replacing? i assume skimming would alter the position of injectors etc so the car would not run correctly or lose power ??

No.

It depends how bad the warpage is, slight distortion can be skimmed out, a banana would need a replacement casting.

do you know how much a new head is ?

Edited 6 July, 201114 yr by Tev

New you are looking at probably £600? from Skoda - There are decent used ones on Ebay for around £100 - bare ones which you could put all your internals into during a swap. Oh, and change the cambelt too whilst there.

I'd stop driving it (unless you absolutely have to) because it could be causing more damageto the engine and needing more work and money to fix it.

I'm afraid the head has probably already warped so you're unlikely to make it any worse.

You should ALWAYS check a head for truth before replacing the head gasket since that gasket failure is usually caused by an overheating incident warping the head, not the other way round!

Not 100% true though, is it? If the h/g goes between the oil ways and water jacket it doesnt mean its overheating. So a h/g can need doing without it overheating.

I'm afraid the head has probably already warped so you're unlikely to make it any worse.

You should ALWAYS check a head for truth before replacing the head gasket since that gasket failure is usually caused by an overheating incident warping the head, not the other way round!

Not 100% true though, is it? If the h/g goes between the oil ways and water jacket it doesnt mean its overheating. So a h/g can need doing without it overheating.

I bolded the bit you missed, however:

I have worked with many PD heads and I stand by my statement, what you say makes no real sense, there has to be a trigger which causes head gasket failure and that trigger is nearly always localised overheating of the cylinder head. Since the PD head is otherwise a well-designed and stable casting unlike, say a Land Rover TD5 head which is a ghastly nightmare of cheapo aero chocolate monkey metal.

Did you figure out whether to oil your foamy filter yet or not?

I bolded the bit you missed, however:

I have worked with many PD heads and I stand by my statement, what you say makes no real sense, there has to be a trigger which causes head gasket failure and that trigger is nearly always localised overheating of the cylinder head. Since the PD head is otherwise a well-designed and stable casting unlike, say a Land Rover TD5 head which is a ghastly nightmare of cheapo aero chocolate monkey metal.

Did you figure out whether to oil your foamy filter yet or not?

I missed the USUALLY bit but its still a valid post from me. H/g can go between oil and water ways without localised heating though. Sometimes they can be poorly made parts or even over pressurising the oil system through blocked breathers. But youd know this from having the experience with PD engines and possibly other engines too?

As for the damn filter, im gonna **** on it i think!

If it needs skimming, (which Skoda say should not be done on a diesel head), the amount that can be removed without effecting combustion timing, depends on which gasket thickness is fitted (there are three thicknesses). If it already uses the thickest gasket you are stuffed. | bare head is about £800 IIRC, a built up head with new injectors, you really don't want to know, as EACH injector is £400+

Biggest cause of gasket failure on a PD engine, is micro cracks around the valve seats.

can the micro cracks be skimmed out or is that impossible ?

can the micro cracks be skimmed out or is that impossible ?

No the cracks happen around the valve seats and they are recessed into the face of the head. They would need to be drilled, tapped and stitching studs screwed in and then machined flush (called head stitching) but would cost more than a decent second hand head, and few companies have the skill these days.