Head gasket - how many miles

[Dexter]

Hi

Has anyone run a car notorious for head gasket failure (in my case the 94' e280 w124) without having to get the job done lets say for 150k?

I am trying to work out wether my carefully driven 93k example is worth the long term investment. What mileage are the symptoms most commonly seen. Hoping there is someone who has never had it done and notched up close on 200k!

Grateful

 

[television]

Head gaskits fail more often on a car that has pulled a caravan or large trailer.

I do not thknk there is any pattern as to when they fail, some do ,some dont.
First symptons are often water in oil, or oil in water, depends on where its failed.

malcolm

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Most fail at some time. It's the old story of aluminium heads and cast iron engine blocks. My 300TE head gasket went at circa 40K and lucklily was replaced under warranty. Mind you the repair by a main dealer left me with an oil leak which proved to be a devil to remedy (timing chain cover).

The symptoms range from oil leaks to water loss externally. The more serious problems happen when the gasket leaks water or oil internally into the cylinders. The later obviously requires immediate attention.

 

[flagstaff]

problem will appear at between 70 and 100 thousand miles; likely symptom will be oil in water, as the CHG fails at one of the oil channels. water in oil scenario is much rarer, thankfully, as oil contamination with coolant can have further disastrous effects.

whole thing not affected by 'careful' driving or otherwise, but by design of head gasket. it *will* fail, that is an inescapable fact. the redesigned head gasket is much less likely to fail, even at similar mileage.

if yours hasn't failed (and there is no evidence of it having been replaced), do it before it becomes a more expensive prospect.

 

[Apial]

Flagstaff is right. My car has never been thrashed or towed anything. After 14 years and 54Kmiles the head gasket started an oil leak on the front right handside (exhaust side) that was due to the original design fault of the gasket.

The repair with the modified gasket cost £1k. The car is worth far more to me than that, so I had no hesitation in getting it done. It did hurt the pocket at the time, but that is now all behind me. I no longer have a nagging worry about head leaks.