View Full Version : So my engine needs an overhaul...
IzZzy
11-03-2008, 09:38 PM
Apparently my head gasket is blown, cylinder 2 and 3 are shot and numerous other things.
Estimated cost for complete engine overhaul is sitting at R16k alone minus other additions.
Big sighness. No wheels for estimated two weeks.
I had to laugh when they stripped the engine and water just sprayed everywhere and flooded the shop floor. Thing is.. I bought the car 2nd hand like 4/5 months ago so this sucks.
This is the 2nd car that I have had that the head gasket has blown, I'm starting to wonder if I'm the culprit.
Anyone have any idea's of what the general price of an engine overhaul should be? If it's any help it's a Mazda Astina 1.8SE engine.
Messugga
11-03-2008, 10:33 PM
Sounds about right. Cheapest overhauls that I've heard of started at around R7k and that was on a classic mini's engine, which isn't very complex. Do you regularly check your engine's water and oil levels?
IzZzy
11-03-2008, 10:48 PM
Yeah, even more so. The astina when I bought it had a hairline leak in one of the water pipes and I had to fill water everyday. I attribute the damage now to that leak. On my previous car.. the water pump failed while I was driving and it overheated :(
Fudzy
11-03-2008, 10:49 PM
Weigh up the cost of an overhaul vs a brand new engine. With some of the Jap cars it works out cheaper.
Velenoso
11-03-2008, 10:52 PM
What you could do is get a quote for all the parts you need to overhaul the engine. See how much that is, then you can gauge if that price is fair.
IzZzy
11-03-2008, 11:39 PM
Thanks for the suggestions, I will have to assess the situation. The co-owner of the garage did offer me a free full valet service (R700) and to have a new suspension fitted for free. At least there is a dismal light at the end of the tunnel.
Gunny
12-03-2008, 12:18 AM
It depends on how mush engineering needs to be done. Correct practise would be to skim the head and pressure test it. Bores need to be checked and honed if nesesary. Its a good idea to change rings, bearings, seals while the motor is in bits. Crank gets check for score marks. Valves get reground and valve stem seals get changed. So it all adds up.
You could just tell them to just change the head gasket and skim it, that would be cheaper but you don't know what other damage there is.
My brother's engine seized last week and I took the car to my mechanic. The guy is brilliant & cheap but he does "private" jobs on the side so he takes his time.
My brother drives an old Jetta 1.8 and I decided that it would be better to get a new motor than redo the old one.
The motor I am having installed is an Audi 2L "longblock", it's a brand new motor.
He has to change the fuel system to fit the Jetta so he is charging me R7800 for the new motor,spares and labour.
I'm getting the car later today, just over a week from when I gave it to him.
Amida
12-03-2008, 08:34 AM
Now I'm glad I'm driving a golf 1 because replacing the head gasket cost me like R250 and one afternoon. After the replacement the car has done over 60 000Km and still going strong.
ToxicBunny
12-03-2008, 08:47 AM
Amida : Replacing the head gasket is simple on MOST cars... but when you blow the head gasket, it usually gets expensive on almost every vehicle cos other things go very very wrong.
Juggy
12-03-2008, 09:32 AM
Apparently my head gasket is blown, cylinder 2 and 3 are shot and numerous other things.
Estimated cost for complete engine overhaul is sitting at R16k alone minus other additions.
Big sighness. No wheels for estimated two weeks.
I had to laugh when they stripped the engine and water just sprayed everywhere and flooded the shop floor. Thing is.. I bought the car 2nd hand like 4/5 months ago so this sucks.
This is the 2nd car that I have had that the head gasket has blown, I'm starting to wonder if I'm the culprit.
Anyone have any idea's of what the general price of an engine overhaul should be? If it's any help it's a Mazda Astina 1.8SE engine.
That is very high, try calling Jap Motors for a second hand engine.
I was quoted 8K for an overhaul on my Golf III GTI motor.
New pistons, rings, valve stem seals, gaskets, skim head, balance everything and skim the flywheel.
Basically to rebuild everything and blueprint the motor.