Engine · critical priority
Head Gasket Replacement Cost & Pricing
Replace a blown head gasket that seals the cylinder head to the engine block. Failure causes coolant loss, white exhaust smoke, milky oil, overheating, and severe engine damage if not repaired promptly.
Typical Head Gasket Replacement cost
$1,500–$4,620, with an average estimate of $2,850 before vehicle-specific adjustments.
What to expect
Difficulty: complex. Typical labor time: 8–20 hours.
Mechanic's tip
Head gasket replacement is one of the most labor-intensive repairs on any vehicle — the engine must be partially disassembled to access the head. Always request that the cylinder head be sent to a machine shop for resurfacing and pressure testing; a warped head will blow the new gasket again. Get a complete estimate that includes coolant, head bolts (usually single-use stretch bolts), and machine shop fees.