Intake manifold gasket

[bns_vs_ute3885]

G’day all,

Posting an update and looking for a bit of advice.

My vs ute has been running poorly and misfiring badly after having gotten hot roughly a week ago.

Mechanic has had a quick look and says there’s radiator fluid in cylinders 1,3 and 5 (v6 ecotec 3.8). He’s not able to fix it til next week, snowed under with Christmas/New Years. Says it’s looking like an intake manifold gasket has busted, not the head gasket, as the oil is fine, no traces of milkiness.

Any ideas what kind of price I might be looking at? This isn’t my usual mechanic, he’s gone on holidays.

Is there likely to be any further damage to my engine from this occurring?

 

[losh1971]

About 3 - 3.5hrs work. One hour or a tad more of that time is cleaning the manifold and heads and other bits and pieces. Gasket will be around $100 $150 depending on what he uses.

 

[vs-lover]

Gasket will be around $100 $150 depending on what he uses.

Hi Losh,

That's a tad expensive when you only really need to pay around $48.00 and it's delivered to your door as well.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Holden-...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

 

[losh1971]

https://www.maceengineering.com.au/epages/shop.sf/en_AU/?ObjectPath=/Shops/mace/Products/GSK601

Yeah I was a tad over Mace have them for $80 at the moment. Although it is unlikely mech shop will use eBay and pass on the savings, more likely Repco and will have RRP plus GST.

 

[vs-lover]

yep ! we all know what REPCO stands for don't we ??

This is where most mechanical workshops make their money from, ripping us off on parts. I've never paid retail price for anything.

 

[bns_vs_ute3885]

That’s not too bad then. Was thinking I’d be up for a grand by the way the mechanic spoke about it being a big job that would take most of the day

 

[losh1971]

I did mine on the VR in under 4hrs including breaks and that was my first time. An Eco would be a tad longer but not 7hrs. I could do it in under 5hrs so a bloke who has done heaps of them, and doesn't have to think about it too much, surely no more than 3.5hrs. Mech quoted me 3hrs to replace mine on the VR.

 

[losh1971]

It will take him most of the day due to interruptions not actual time doing the work. If he says anymore than 4hrs labour I'd be looking elsewhere.

 

[losh1971]

I'd be asking for an estimate, based on say max 4hrs labour plus parts, say $150 for a really good aluminium gasket set and 50 bucks for coolant..

 

[Wozza]

Before I ended up doing it myself ..rang around for quotes best was around $380 worst was $800...a young lass down the road payed $1200 to have her VS done...not sure what else they did, but you can buy a running regoed car around here for that sort of money