Skimming heads..

Dill · Post by **Dill** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 8:04 pm

If a car has blown a gasket badly, and high temps have been experienced, heads warped etc I can understand the need for skimming heads.

As my car 'only' has a minor problem it occurs, do I still need to have heads sent away to see if they are still flat? I wouldn't of thought any long term damage will have occured?

Or is it a case better safe than sorry?
Dill

PhatBob · Post by **PhatBob** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 8:19 pm

You need to check the head with a straight edge and a feeler gauge.
Theres no short cut apart from checking and measuring.

Dill · Post by **Dill** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 10:13 pm

Cheers for advice.

Dill

pablo · Post by **pablo** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 10:22 pm

We blew 2 headgaskets because we didn't check the ehead.

Mad Monk · Post by **Mad Monk** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 2:31 am

If you have a head gasket go then its wise to have the head skimmed or at least take it to an engineer for them to check. Its much cheaper to do a job properly the first time than to try and cut corners.
as the saying goes, buy cheap you buy twice and its better to measure ten times and cut once than measure once and cut ten times

boxy · Post by **boxy** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 9:27 pm

Totally agree here, as just learnt the hard way myself. Head gasket gone again on the Vitara. Lasted about 2000 miles and overheated badly this time.

PhatBob · Post by **PhatBob** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 9:48 pm

If things work out (i.e. If the machinist at MASS is not still in bed with Man Flu tomorrow) I will be getting my SR20DE head skimmed tomorrow.
I'm already missing Sprint events and I need to get this sorted pronto.