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[eddscott]

I understand the head gaskets going on diesel XJs is quite common and was wondering how much would it cost to have fixed?  I ask because I've seen a 99 XJ with HGF and was wondering if it would be worth buying and have fixed - can't do it myself BTW.

Many thanks guys 

[Tank]

If you are unable to do it yourself and would have to pay someone other than a very cheap and close friend then i would say no its not worth it.There are plenty of cheap XJ`s about and from what i understand there arent that many advantages to the diesel over a 4.0 anyway .Engines for the diesel can be found cheaply but then you will probably pay more for labour than the cost of the engine or maybe even the cost of the car,and to have them repaired is just a lot of hassle and maybe even costlier than just sticking in another engine as i know some have 4 heads which all have to be done to do the job right.I am prepared to be corrected but that is my opinion and i would say no its not worth it if you cant do it yourself

[Dave69]

the cost of fixing a head gasket problem is not cheap especially when you are not doing it yourself. most garages might charge you a days labour if they haven't done one before, or do them regular. If a head or heads have become porus then you wil need a new replacements. Head bolts and head gasket kit are relatively cheap compared to the rrest. The total charge of parts and labour plus vat could be reaching the silly cost of £800. for this price you could get a 4ltr cherokee or a grand cherokee if your lucky.

If you can't do it yourself then forget it.

[The Smiths]

Got agree with the above.

Leave alone. 

If only head gasket then would be looking less than £100 for the bits and £700 ish labour as above sounds right.

But the chances are the car has not been looked after and thats why it has problems

[Mike Pavelin]

Run away!

[eddscott]

Thanks chaps.  Think I'll stick with finding a decent late petrol limited.  I sold my Jeep 12 months ago and I'm surprised how much a wish I hadn't. 

[onoil]

£700 for a days labour?

[Panic mechanic!]

dealer charges are knocking on £100 an hour easily so if they could do it in a day that would be a bargain! lol

[Dave69]

a non dealer garage might do it but expect to pay 8 hrs labour and possibly at 60/hr so thats £480 before vat so it does add up quickly.

i managed to get the whole thing done in 4hrs when i had mine but there again i did replace it a fair few times before i saw the light and bought a petrol

[eddscott]

Theres a diesel Orvis near me that I quite like.   Is there anyway to tell if the head gasket is about to fail? 

Its done 78K and seems in excellent condition. 

[wildrover]

I am pretty sure others will tell you that there is no way to know if the head gasket , or head is about to go , even if you pull it to bits its going to look fine up untill the point when it fails....

I myself bought a Jeep diesal , which turned out to have an overheating issue due to the gasket , or possibly the head failing , but in my case a bottle of wonder liquid fixed the problem , and i am still happily driving the oil burner around thousands of miles later.....if you click on my profile you can see all my posts including the one about my overheating problem and the cure...

I don,t know if it will encourage you to go ahead and buy a diesal Jeep , or have the opposite effect...i have to say i am quite happy with my diesal cherokee....

[Mike Pavelin]

Theres a diesel Orvis near me that I quite like.   Is there anyway to tell if the head gasket is about to fail? 

Its done 78K and seems in excellent condition. 

Yup, open the bonnet, if there's a diesel engine in there it's a ticking time bomb.

[Dave69]

the diesel engine is great when it is working. nice and powerful for a 2.5, loads of torque and will cruise at 80 mph with no problems at all. But when they overheat or start to pressurise the cooling system then just hope your bank balance will take it. There are addatives you can add to the water to fix headgasket problems but this addative needs to be always in the water coolant.

As Mike says they are a ticking timebomb for failure. there are good ones and there are bad ones it's a case of pot luck. Mine had a full service history but it still failed. A FSH is only a guide to engine state not a garantee for reliability. The mk1's had a reputation for heads going at 65k, that's how bad the castings were. New replacement heads are alot better and designed slightly different so should increase the reliability but fluid servicing should be more often on these. Yep maybe over the top but at least then the motor might stay running.

There is no way to predict when the heads will fail.

[Nosebolt]

we got a engine less water pump at the site (still in car) that had a head rebuild 1000 miles ago for sale if it helps

[brian reid]

offer the chap £150-£200 to take it of his hands for scrap,break the car or repair it,but i would not offer him more than £200 if there are major head problems,scrap yard up t he road from me has just got a cherokee in if your looking for parts.

but as for your i all down to how much you want to pay and fork out in repairs,never take a car or that age to a dealership,the chap that had my 98 2.5td cherokee forked out £1800 on a full strip down and rebuild for an engine problem,most of this was labour,take that why he got shot of it...the car was 6 years old and i picked it up for £2800..and it never gave me any major problems.

i reckon the answer to looking after your heads is 2 or even 3 oil changes a year and keep an eye on your coolent levels.

hope you get a good one what ever you do,but you can pick a cherokee up cheap now,glasgow car market a few months ago,"T" plate 4.0 cherokee,better nick than mine,went for £700,engine sounded like a dream.