commodore heads blown

[nielsonp]

hi.

so my head gaskets on my car are blown.
i can get them fixed for about $1000 but i have been told that i would probably have to redo the piston rings as well so it wouldnt really be worth fixing.

so i can probably flog it off for $2000 at a dealer and get a newer car... or im thinking maybe i should just keep driving the one i have till it goes no more.

its done just shy of 220,000 km uses a little bit of water (i have used sealup stuff which i have found out later is dodgy) and uses just a tiny bit more oil than i think it should..

im just thinking right now i could only afford to replace it with a $8000 car but this time next year i could replace it with one worth $15000...

what are your thoughts?

[alien]

If you have mechanical knowledge you could fo the head gasket yourself. And get the heads machined. Who said you had to redo the piston rings? And what was the reasoning?

[nielsonp]

thanks for the reply!

no i dont really have mechanical knowledge...

i was told i would probably have to do the piston rings as well because of the fact that the car is using oil. thats what my uncle told me... he does gas conversions for a living and has mechanical knowledge..

i went past holden and talked to one of their mechanics and he told me not worth fixing. then he told me that the commodores have problems with the head gaskets on gas. (my car is on gas) and that i should have special heads on it for lpg anyway...

[Nevyn]

if ya uncles a mechanic or at least knows what his doin, I'd by grabbin a cpla slabs, the gaskets and inviting him over for a barby...I save me daughter heaps by doing most of the work on her car, also help out me son when he needs it, but his learning

[azkwazere]

Id be doing a compression test prior to deeming the rings gone... might just be leaking from somewhere... or escaping into the water gallies..

You can do a head gasket for under $200 drive away if you know what your doing with a spanner.. that includes all your replacement oils, coolant, sealants etc.

aZk.

[Trevor 062]

Get your Uncle onto it..

[nielsonp]

an update...

talked to a mechanic today and he said that he thinks its highly unlikely the rings are stuffed.. he said the ecotec motors in those commodores normally do 300 thou no problem...

pressure test is $100 so i might do it cos to me its probably worth doing the heads again if thats all i need to do.. i would have to buy new heads that are suitable for LPG but i dont expect that to affect the cost very much but then i would have a car that will last me a few more years.

I was thinking to buy an $8000 car its a lot more money im driving around because im still young (19) i cant afford to pay $2000 per year to insure fully and while i dont drive around like an idiot i think im fairly careful but u can never be 100% sure your not going to crash.