Head gasket Vectra 3.2 V6

**tommyk999** · 10th July 2008, 15:39

Hello
Could you please tell me how much would cost head gasket replacement???
And where in Oxford is a good garage??
Than you

**Ste** · 10th July 2008, 16:12

Depends where you take it, and if the head needs skiming (which is probably advisable)

Are you going to get both done, or just the one that's blown?

**Rebellion** · 10th July 2008, 16:16

Are you sure it's not the cam cover gasket that needs replacing?

**Gsi3.2** · 10th July 2008, 17:50

it's quite a big job, so expect a labour bill of around 12-16 hours..and about £200 for parts..and change the cambelt while you're doing it...

**tommyk999** · 10th July 2008, 20:55

I am not sure, i got chocolate stuff in coolant tank and there is oil deposit around engine.
I do some photos so you can see if its cam cover gasket or not.
Would be possible to do it at home in garage??

**Gsi3.2** · 10th July 2008, 21:03

it could well be not the headgasket... there is an oil/water intercooler in the bottom of the vee.. this has a habit of failing and giving symptoms of headgasket failure but without the gasket actually going..

what you need is a pressure test on the coolant system and a cylinder leakage test on the engine to check for gasket leakdown.. that or a headertank sniffer for combustion gases in the coolant will tell you 100% if it's a headgasket failed or not..

**Rebellion** · 10th July 2008, 21:33

I vote it's one of the cam covers....for the 2.5, 3.0, 2.6 and 3.2 as installed in Omegas, cam cover gaskets failing was quite common, whereas headgasket failures were rare.

This is significant as the cam cover gasket will be much cheaper to change than a head gasket would be...maybe between 1 and 2 hours labour for someone competent at it.

I did a cam cover gasket replacement on my Omega - a bit of a bitc* of a job, but half the hassle was removing the plenum, which I believe you don't have. Again, from my Omega days, if it is a cam cover gasket, make sure whomever does it uses a genuine VX gasket as pattern ones don't last, and you also need the Vx black sealant.

**Gsi3.2** · 10th July 2008, 21:43

thing is, and it's a biggy..

, the cam cover gaskets failing only allows black engine oil to flood down the plug recess's and down the outside of the head surfaces.. it will never ever reach the coolant system and cause the cross contamination that Tommy has reported...there is no coolant passages in the camcover..

and yes, the 3.2's have a plenumb thats in the way, just as it is on all the v6's from the C25XE onwards..

just in different forms...and yes, the pattern gaskets on the camcovers are poor at best.. i always used to fit new covers as well as new gaskets, and use RTV sealant on it too..However in this case it's definately either a headgasket breach, or more likely the oil cooler in the vee which i beleive it is, based on my experience..