Head gasket... now for 3rd time!

[wolfman]

I am now taking my oil leaking Celica back to a garage a 3rd time for a head gasket job. Good news is that I have a 90 day warrenty on the head gasket job with this garage..... bad news is that it is THIS garage, and they can't seem to get it done right!

Long story, bought the car this way. Leaks oil down from head toward the oil filter area on engine. Guy at garage says he sent head out to be checked by a shop and they say it's flat and good. He puts a new gasket on and no leak for a week, 2 weeks, then it's back in same area again. He said he used a good fel-pro gasket the last 2 times and is considering having it machined this time.

Question... This engine has been modified a little. I know that it was bored 20 over and the crank was knife edged, could this be a cause of this? Could it be that I need one of those high performance head gaskets that are made of mettlel and cost like $350??

At this point I'm ready to do what I have to do to get this fixed! I love this car.

[subspec]

no way could the crank being knife edged cause this. or the pistons being bored .20 over. your head could be warped or possibly they ****** up the HG with the installation. unless you are running boost there is no need for a MLS gasket

[Snowfork]

Some people swear that fel-pro gaskets are trash.
I haven't had problems with them personally.
Also, bad mechanics are a dime a dozen.

[wolfman]

Originally Posted by subspec

no way could the crank being knife edged cause this. or the pistons being bored .20 over. your head could be warped or possibly they ****** up the HG with the installation. unless you are running boost there is no need for a MLS gasket

Thanks for the reply's fellas. These have been my thoughts as well. I see no reason the mod's could cause this but not ever having owned a car like this, I figured I should ask somebody. One thing I took notice of with this car after this trouble started was that the radiator, heater coil, all hoses, and temp gauge were all brand new. This makes me wonder if this car had been over heated at some point.

The leak is from the same exact place every time which tells me the head must be warped after 3 head gaskets. I am going to demand it be machined whether or not this time even if I have to pay for it.

I've had it with this!

[wolfman]

Finally! I was able to get the celica back into this garage for now 3rd time for a new head gasket job. Guy that runs the garage seemed none too pleased to see me back again, kind of pissed me off the way he treated me when I demanded the head be machined this time. He said that his "man" he sent it to told him it was good and that he wouldnt pay the 40-45 dollars to have it done. I told him I would pay it. Keeping my fingers crossed AGAIN in hope this thing will seal up this time. I don't know what else to do at this point, I do not want to take my car back to these fools anymore but I payed them $730 to do this job back in October and I DO have a 90 day warrentee.

[awdmofo]

Originally Posted by wolfman

Finally! I was able to get the celica back into this garage for now 3rd time for a new head gasket job. Guy that runs the garage seemed none too pleased to see me back again, kind of pissed me off the way he treated me when I demanded the head be machined this time. He said that his "man" he sent it to told him it was good and that he wouldnt pay the 40-45 dollars to have it done. I told him I would pay it. Keeping my fingers crossed AGAIN in hope this thing will seal up this time. I don't know what else to do at this point, I do not want to take my car back to these fools anymore but I payed them $730 to do this job back in October and I DO have a 90 day warrentee.

I hate shops that give people a hard time when they don't back their own work. had a T-belt replaced on my 91T mr2 once. the moron had his dad who was older than dirt put it in, and he put the belt guide on backwards and chewed up the belt within 1000 miles. he bought a new belt, clean the engine up and replaced it the correct way and apologized. That is an honest shop, i hate it when shops treat customers like idiots when they can't do the job right.

[wolfman]

Originally Posted by awdmofo

I hate shops that give people a hard time when they don't back their own work. had a T-belt replaced on my 91T mr2 once. the moron had his dad who was older than dirt put it in, and he put the belt guide on backwards and chewed up the belt within 1000 miles. he bought a new belt, clean the engine up and replaced it the correct way and apologized. That is an honest shop, i hate it when shops treat customers like idiots when they can't do the job right.

I guess that's what I deserve for going with the cheapest estimate in town. I know your pain bro, live and learn. Had my car back a week so far and no leak that I can tell but this time I have a weird ticking sound that is new. I hear it from the passenger side front when excelerating. Took it back, had the guy take a ride with me so he could hear it. He said if it get's worse to bring it back. Really? I'm done with this guy, taking it to someone with some know how when I have some money saved.

[wolfman]

Leak is back again, car that once ran fantastic now runs like crap. I suppose it's time to cut bait and move on. I can keep taking this car back to this garage of idiots and have them redo what they have redone now 4 times and listen to the same lame ass excuses or just get screwed out of my money and move on.