Anyone A Mechanic?

[HTexan]

loss of compression in one cylinder? You are going to need a rebuild soon or replacement. You can band aid it some times with a hotter plug in the bad cylinder.

[GigantorX]

When they take off the cylinder head, given the mileage, there's a good chance they find other issues.

You might want to consider an upgrade.

Previous gen Elantra with that mileage on it? Yeah, no sleaze ball mechanic is pass up the opportunity to "fin more stuff."

[SF1900]

I have a honda. About 130K miles on it. I was driving crazy distances for like a 2-4 year period. To this day, rarely any problems, other than the basic maintenance. would never get another car other than a honda.

[Tapeworm]

Gaskets don't just fail spontaneously.  Guessing it overheated so you'll have to solve that or any engine repair is wasted money.  Coolant pump, thermostat, radiator, engine's coolant passages, hoses - there's a problem somewhere that you'll have to fix.  Aluminum heads don't tolerate much overheat.  It's probably warped and will need machining, although there's a limit to how much can be shaved off so you may be up for a new head.

Guessing he means one cylinder is losing compression by leaking through the failed gasket, not that there's a cylinder/ring problem to address.

Get a quote.  Be clear that the quote is the quote, no room for "oh we had to do more than we thought so you owe us an extra $2000."  Just be honest that you only have so much to spend and need to compare repair cost to replacement.  So ask what it's going to cost for repairs and the likelihood of those repairs being needed.  He'll give you something like "For X this many dollars.  For Y, which will probably also need to be done, this many more dollars.  For Z, which might need to be done, this much." Be clear that you don't have money for surprises.  You have to know the worst case cost before proceeding.  It's perfectly reasonable to ask for all possible costs so you know what you might be spending.  It isn't reasonable to expect him to know exactly what it will cost.  He can't know, for example, if the head is warped without taking it off and examining it, only then being able to determine if it's true, needs machining, or needs replacing.  But he can give you the costs associated with each possibility up front.

Compare it to the cost of an engine replacement or another car.  If you haven't taken particularly good care of this one then this might not be your last mechanic's bill, so factor that in to your decision.

Imo vehicles should have a thermocouple fuel shut off.  There's one on my air compressor yet none on my vehicles.  Anyone whose car has overheated will probably agree.  But I guess that would present an insurmountable 'safety issue' somehow.    Not like when an engine turns off anyway because it died, right?

[Walter Sobchak]

I have a honda. About 130K miles on it. I was driving crazy distances for like a 2-4 year period. To this day, rarely any problems, other than the basic maintenance. would never get another car other than a honda.

How homosexually fitting....

[SF1900]

How homosexually fitting....

Thank you.

[Thin Lizzy]

Gaskets don't just fail spontaneously.  Guessing it overheated so you'll have to solve that or any engine repair is wasted money.  Coolant pump, thermostat, radiator, engine's coolant passages, hoses - there's a problem somewhere that you'll have to fix.  Aluminum heads don't tolerate much overheat.  It's probably warped and will need machining, although there's a limit to how much can be shaved off so you may be up for a new head.

From my understanding, once coolant leaks into the cylinder head, the engine is usually farked.

[Tapeworm]

From my understanding, once coolant leaks into the cylinder head, the engine is usually farked.

Hmm, idk if the block/cylinders/pistons would be fucked or not.  Coolant would be at engine temp so I wouldn't think there'd a violent thermal shock, just boil off cooling.  There'd certainly be a mess to clean up.  At the very least I think BMC is up for machine shop work on the head.  $  I'd be called a hobby mechanic at best tho, and that's if you're feeling generous.

Incidentally, one of the coolest 'should I buy it' non-shop tests I've seen was running an engine, taking a sample of the oil, putting it on aluminum foil, and heating it with a lighter crackhead style.  If it sizzles, you know there's coolant in the oil = head/gasket issues.

[mr.turbo]

there are tricks that can be used to fix a bad head gasket for $50 for a few months

[Nails]

there are tricks that can be used to fix a bad head gasket for $50 for a few months

[mr.turbo]

[mr.turbo]

 

[Nails]

when i was 21yrs old and stupid my ford expedition had leaking radiator , i used those pellets to fix the clog, 2 months later i needed a new motor because they caused a clog all over the block and head and blew the motor

$4600 mistake

[Tapeworm]

Nifty.  Not proper but good to know it's out there.

[HTexan]

I have a honda. About 130K miles on it. I was driving crazy distances for like a 2-4 year period. To this day, rarely any problems, other than the basic maintenance. would never get another car other than a honda.

x2 honda drivetrains are built like tanks

[Palumboism]

From my understanding, once coolant leaks into the cylinder head, the engine is usually farked.

That's not true.  This happens when you have a blown head gasket and the antifreeze mixes with the oil.  The car will usually bow smoke, but it's all repairable.  My first car did this.

[Palumboism]

Car died while driving on Tuesday. took it to a commercial mechanic and he said something about the head gasket and compression cylinder. Any idea of what that will cost me?  

Mike, I would recommend replacing your head gasket.  You have a small four cylinder engine, so it shouldn't be more than $1200 to replace.  Drive the car a few more thousand miles then sell it.  You wouldn't be able to get much for your car with out repairing this.

Make sure to find a good mechanic you trust.

This guy is replacing the head gasket on an Elantra.

[Thin Lizzy]

That's not true.  This happens when you have a blown head gasket and the antifreeze mixes with the oil.  The car will usually bow smoke, but it's all repairable.  My first car did this.

Ironically, this recently happened on a reality show called Fast N Loud. They bought a 30's hot rod for a quick flip, but when they took off the cylinder head they found that coolant leaked 
into the engine. The mechanic Jason Aker, who's a pretty well known restoration expert said the engine was shot. Seeing it on TV, it looked as though everything was rusted: springs, rockers, push rods etc. Then again, it might have just been the age of the car and poor maintenance.

[HTexan]

when i was 21yrs old and stupid my ford expedition had leaking radiator , i used those pellets to fix the clog, 2 months later i needed a new motor because they caused a clog all over the block and head and blew the motor

$4600 mistake

When I was in high school my classic 66 mustang got a nasty radiator leak, I did the egg white trick. A few eggs later, I was able to drive her around a couple days until a new one came in the mail.

[mr.turbo]

coolant (glycol) will remove oxidation and carbon from metals but may react with adhesives, or parts. a clean cylinder indicates a coolant leak.

the gasket seal is a glassy silicon material.  it can gum things up if it goes to the wrong areas.

the way to kill the motor is by overheating it or never change the oil.

[oldtimer1]

Your car if it was running is only worth about $1500. Why sink $1500 to $1800 to make it run?

[HTexan]

Your car if it was running is only worth about $1500. Why sink $1500 to $1800 to make it run?

America that's why. 

[Palumboism]

Your car if it was running is only worth about $1500. Why sink $1500 to $1800 to make it run?

What's it worth if he doesn't fix it?  $500?

This is always the question when a car with this many miles has something major go wrong.

I think he could fix it for $1200 and sell it for $2500, but these numbers depend on how much work he's willing to do.

[Thin Lizzy]

IMO, his best bet is to give Rusty a call:

[mr.turbo]

canada was afflicted with hyundais first mass produced car the pony. It was a top selling car for a period but it was awful. I think it was $5000 new or something.