need advice - head gasket oil leak

[Faisal]

Hello and welcome to another oil related problem encountered by the great Faisal.

ok lets cut to the chase, basically iv had my car serviced recently (cambelt,waterpump etc)
and i was advised that i have a really nasty oil leak coming from my back left corner of my head gasket. aparently the rubber has worn or something is letting the oil seep out in streams.

it explains pools of oil that i have encountered at random times with the car recently.

but they reccomend i take it to a Seat specialist to sort out because they dont have the tools (??) for it....

i have noticed a loss in performance,and dont know if this links to it...

iv been quoted around £500 for labour as it requires a lot of stripping...

does this sound right? has this happened to anyone? experience loss in performance?

is it worth forking out that much for a head gasket replacement?

 

[jwfcms]

a head gasket replacement would involve removing the cambelt again, remove the head getting it checked, possibly when its out have the valve stem seals changed and head decoked. have the head skimmed and a new gasket. replace the head bolts and refit everything with new gaskets, intake manifold gaskets and exhaust as these would have been removed. a new good quality gasket, best to get a genuine one and dont skimp on a few quid for one from the local car spares.
your looking at a few hours labour, and £ 150+ in parts, gasket set, head skim etc. plus around 250-300 labour for a job like that. obviously you would still need an oil and filter change, even though you have had a service but when the head gasket has gone oil and water can mix. you wouldnt need a new cambelt kit or water pump as you say you have only just had it done

ive done a few now and would charge around 250 labour.

 

[vee_dub_modder]

bit of a pain but no worse than most other cars. though if they can change your cambelt i dont know why they cant do the head gasket???
usual cost on head haskes is around 700-800 depending on work involved. the head is sent of for crack test and skiming then returned to the dealer to refit. you can ask the dealer/who ever to not get it skimmed/use the old cambelt if your skintos, however i'd advise against it!
better spend a bob or two and get it done right than skimp on it now and pay through the nose for it in future!

use genuine parts as none gen gaskets suck... you'll want a belt too but pump will be fine.
Guy above seems to know what he's on about so may be worth asking him nicely or asking your local main dealer if they will do something special on the price for you (they need the work atm so will bend over for you backwards)

good luck chap!