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Head Gasket
DorsetStrider - 20/9/07 at 03:33 PM

Hey guys,

Does anyone know how easy/hard it is to change a head gasket on a fiat cincento?

I know the theory behind changing a head gasket but have never actually done it before... are fiats particularly tricky? Advise as always very gratefully recieved.

theconrodkid - 20/9/07 at 03:44 PM

10 min job,leave the inlet manifold on when you take the head off,get it skimmed,they burn through between1 and2 if i remember rightly

BenB - 20/9/07 at 03:44 PM

Ask someone with a K-series engine, they'll be an expert

I think the hardest bit is scraping off the old ones without getting shite into the cylinders and water galleries.

skydivepaul - 20/9/07 at 03:46 PM

unlike changing the head gasket on a renault kangoo van!!!
spent all day stripping out the turbo and timing gear etc and just got the head off - 8 hours

i am out of practice though

stevec - 20/9/07 at 04:10 PM

Had the wifes head off twice now on her Clankyclunko. Its a doddle, Hydraulic lifters on the rocker shaft tend to pump out while it is off and make it a pig to start afterwards but just keep cranking
Steve.

[Edited on 20/9/07 by stevec]

froggy - 20/9/07 at 07:59 PM

quote:
Originally posted by theconrodkid
10 min job,leave the inlet manifold on when you take the head off,get it skimmed,they burn through between1 and2 if i remember rightly


can you start at my place monday morning then if your that quick ive got a tdci focus and a grand voyager in for head gasket so you should have them both done for lunchtime

britishtrident - 20/9/07 at 08:13 PM

quote:
Originally posted by BenB
Ask someone with a K-series engine, they'll be an expert

I think the hardest bit is scraping off the old ones without getting shite into the cylinders and water galleries.


I work mainly with Rovers but have changed a lot more blown Fiat head gaskets than K series.

With Fiats it is an age/mile thing -- they nearly all go, I suspect the cause is stress relaxation -- low temperature creep.
Usually an easy fix unless the engine has been roasted.


A K series will only suffer head gasket failure if run without a circulation of coolant --- ie cooling system air locked due to water loss or habitually abused and revved hard from a cold start before the thermostat has had a chance to open.