So my car has 91k miles and it has been overheating since around October. First time I got a T-Pipe fixed for like 20 bucks. Fixed the issue for 2 months. Then it overheated again, and the radiator cap fixed it. Then in December it overheated again, and I took it straight to Nissan. They did a multi-point inspection and ended up siphoning out a ton of air from the hoses. It worked for eight weeks. Jan 25, it overheated again and Nissan couldn't figure out why (that's ridiculous to me), so I took it to Fletcher's, the shop here in Arizona that fixed my car the first two times. Show This time, they replaced my thermostat, radiator cap, and did a coolant flush. Then they swapped my radiator for free (so that was nice) and then they said it was still overheating so that I needed a new water pump... so they sent it to a 2nd Fletcher's that does the Water Pump. Then they called and said I don't need a new water pump, my head gasket is blown. They quoted me 2,700 + tax for the Head, and 3,900 + Tax for a used engine that has 40,000 Miles. (They recommended the engine of course). Called another shop (friend of mine actually) and he said he can do that same exact engine for 3,070 out the door, and also give me 12 months to pay it off with no interest. I'd just like to hear your guys' opinion. It has to be the head, at this point, right? If there are no leaks, radiator/thermostat/hoses have been replaced... and it's not the water pump... it's pretty much gotta be the head, right? They said every time they siphoned the air out, they'd take it for a ten minute drive, come back, and the hoses were filled with air again. They did that nine times, actually. So now I think I'm ready to take it to my friend's shop and finance the 3,000 for the 41k Mile Engine. I figure this is worth it because that engine has 50,000 miles LESS than my current one, and hopefully this will fix the problem once and for all. Also my friend said he can do a chemical test to utterly confirm that it's definitely the head. Further note: I called a company here in AZ that just sells parts and that same engine is $1,520.40. So does it seem fair that my friend's shop wants 3k out the door for the full engine install? I'd really appreciate any input. Thank you so much in advance, everyone! TL;DR: G35 Coupe has 91k miles and a blown head. 3k out the door estimate for a used engine with 40k miles. Should I do it? Is that a fair price if the same engine itself costs 1,520 from a parts shop?
Is it worth fixing a blown head gasket?If your head gasket leak has caused this problem you are almost always better off replacing the whole engine as a new head gasket will stop the leak but bearing damage has probably already been done.
Does a blown head gasket mean I need a new engine?Additionally, the blown head gasket may have caused further problems in other engine parts or caused irreversible damage to the engine. If the blown head gasket has caused catastrophic damage, a complete engine may need to be installed or a new vehicle purchased.
Is it a big job to replace a head gasket?Replacing your head gasket is an extremely time-consuming task because the engine head has to be removed and then replaced. And the more time a mechanic is forced to spend on that job rather than something else, the more they will charge you.
How much is the labor to replace a head gasket?How Much Does it Cost to Replace a Head Gasket? According to a national average, it costs between $1,624 and $1,979 for a head gasket replacement. The associated labor costs are estimated between $909 and $1147 while the parts themselves vary in the range of $715 and $832.
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