Hi All

I own a Fabia 1.4mpi 2001. Had issues with it in the past and dumped some kseal into it and that resolved my back pressure issue. Water usage at that point slowed right down also (only needed to top it up every few month). Anyway went to top the water up and well there was loads of bubbles. Checked the oil Cap and it had loads of mayo on it.

Soo I expect the gasket has failed(never expected the kseal to last). So 2 questions.

How much would it cost for a garage to replace it say if the head did not need skimming (its got the org gasket on and not the replacement one).

How easy of a job would it be if I decided to do it myself? I tinker with the odd job on it but never done something like that before.

Thanks again for all your assistance.

As it's an over head valve engine, it's relatively easy to DIY, but rather daunting to someone who has never completed such a task. The more difficult bits are undoing the bolts at the back of the engine such as those holding the exhaust downpipe to the manifold, unexpected issues like seized/rusted bolts (I would hope on a 2001 you should experience little issues in this respect, but it is a possibility worth mentioning - when it happens it's invariably the most difficult to reach one), and remembering where all the bits go (if you think you might have trouble remembering take a photo first and label as you undo. When you remove the push rods, you can put them through holes in an old box and number left to right so they go back in correct order.) The main tools you need, other than a good general tool kit, are a breaker bar and a 10mm allen key socket to fit. The procedure is explained in the Haynes manual. If you follow carefully, are mechanically minded, and thoroughly methodological and careful you should be ok.

So long as the cylinder head has not been subjected to excessive overheating it should be ok with just a clean up. If it is skimmed you would probably need to reset the valve clearances as described in the Haynes manual, which if you managed to get the engine back together is a piece of cake. There are specialist shops that will skim and pressure test your cylinder head, though I have never used them myself.

DO NOT set valve clearance in 1.4 MPI ! It was necessary in 1.3 and earlier versions.

In 1.4 MPI it's self adjustment.

Aye thanks for that.. Will be grabbing the Haynes manual on the weekend looks like its within my skill level. Just did not want to be paying a garage 400-500 or so for a job that's not that hard

DO NOT set valve clearance in 1.4 MPI ! It was necessary in 1.3 and earlier versions.

In 1.4 MPI it's self adjustment.

True assuming they are ok in the first place and that the head hasn't been skimmed.