Head Gasket Repair in Hillsboro, KS
The short answer
A blown head gasket means the seal between the top of the engine and the engine block has failed, and caught early it is usually a repairable job that saves the engine.
When it goes, coolant, oil and hot gases leak where they should not. It is almost always caused by overheating: picture a July afternoon hauling a loaded trailer toward Newton, the needle sitting on hot for a few miles, and a week later a cloud of sweet white smoke every time you start it. Several cheaper problems look similar, so we test properly in Hillsboro for drivers across Marion, Harvey, McPherson, Chase and Lyon Counties, including Newton and Peabody. Bring it in, or we will come and get it.
Call or text (620) 416-0008. Describe the noise. We'll do the rest.
We answer texts the same day we get them.
Blown head gasket signs, decoded
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Text us which onesWhat head gasket repair at Moxie actually looks like
We prove it before we quote it. A head gasket job is a big repair, and a leaking intake gasket, a cracked overflow tank or a bad thermostat can produce similar signs for much less money. Testing tells us which you have.
We do the repair properly when the gasket has failed. We take the top of the engine apart, check the cylinder head is still flat and replace the gasket.
We fix whatever made it overheat in the first place. Replacing the gasket without fixing the cause just means doing it twice.
You get the diagnosis and the full price before we start. Financing is available if you would rather spread the cost.
Why Hillsboro trusts Moxie with head gasket repair
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We test before we quote
A combustion gas test and a compression test, so you only pay for a head gasket if you need one.
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We fix the cause too
We find why it overheated, so the new gasket is not the next thing to fail.
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One-year warranty
Engine and transmission work carries Moxie's one-year warranty, and we go through exactly what it covers before you approve the repair.
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Free pickup and delivery
Driving on a failing head gasket makes it worse, so we collect within 40 road miles.
Call or text (620) 416-0008. Describe the noise. We'll do the rest.
Head gasket myths we hear at the counter
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Sounds like yours? Tell us what it is doing and we will tell you straight.
Paying for it
This is one of the repairs people put off because of what it costs, and putting it off usually makes it worse. You can split it into payments and get the vehicle back on the road now, with Affirm, Sunbit, Synchrony Car Care, NAPA EasyPay and more, including options for credit that is still being built.
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What wears out head gaskets around here
- Overheating while towing or hauling in summer heat, which makes the metal expand and crush or lift the gasket
- Low coolant from a leak elsewhere that was not fixed in time
- A failed water pump, thermostat or cooling fan that let the engine run hot
- A radiator packed with dust and chaff, so it cannot shed heat
- Old coolant that has lost its ability to protect the gasket from corrosion
- Age and heat cycles on engines known for weak head gasket designs
How we confirm a head gasket problem in Hillsboro
- We test the coolant for combustion gases with a chemical block test, which shows whether exhaust is getting into the cooling system.
- We pressure test the cooling system to see where coolant is going.
- We run a compression or leak-down test to check whether cylinders are leaking into each other or into the coolant.
- We check the oil for coolant, and the exhaust for coolant vapor.
- We look for the cause, such as a failed water pump or radiator, so the new gasket is not cooked by the same problem.
What we check
- Coolant for combustion gases
- Oil for signs of coolant contamination
- Compression and cylinder leakage
- Radiator, water pump, thermostat and fans
- The cylinder head for warping, once it is off the engine
- Head bolts and the engine block surface
What the repair usually is
- Replacing the head gasket and head bolts
- Having the cylinder head checked and resurfaced flat where it has warped
- Replacing the water pump, thermostat or radiator that caused the overheating
- Flushing the cooling system and changing the oil to remove contamination
- Engine replacement, if the block or head is cracked beyond repair
Head gasket repair across five Kansas counties
We look after drivers across Marion County, Harvey County, McPherson County, Chase County and Lyon County, with free pickup and delivery within 40 road miles of 611 Orchard Dr, Hillsboro.
Head gasket repair questions we hear every week
Can I drive with a blown head gasket?
You should not keep driving on it. A failing head gasket usually leads to more overheating, and each time the engine gets hot the damage spreads, which can warp the cylinder head or ruin the engine. If you must move the vehicle, keep it short and watch the temperature gauge. We can pick it up within 40 road miles of Hillsboro instead.
Do head gasket sealers in a bottle work?
They can sometimes slow a very small leak for a while, but they rarely fix a failed head gasket for good, and they can clog the radiator and heater core. We would rather test the engine and give you the real options. If the vehicle is near the end of its life anyway, we will tell you that honestly too.
How much does a head gasket repair cost?
Head gasket repair is one of the larger engine jobs, and the price depends mainly on the engine design, since some engines need far more taken apart than others. Whether the head needs resurfacing, and what caused the overheating, also matter. Text or call us with your vehicle, and we will test it and give you a full price before any work begins.