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I suggest you purchase a repair manual for your Benz, if available. It's a major task to remove the head(s) and replace the gasket. You'll need torque sequencing specs, probably new head bolts, etc. You should have the head checked at a machine shop for warping. I think it's beyond the scope of this web site to give very detailed and explicit instructions for such a major engine job. Good luck....
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Exactly which gasket did you change? There is a gasket on the valve cover and a gasket between the cylinder head and the engine block, the Head Gasket. It's the Head gasket you need to change. Then you need to flush the Oil system and the coolant system to clean them out.
Changing a head gasket is a Big job where you remove the top half of the engine exposing the piston tops. If the gasket has been changed 'several' times your probably looking at a cracked cylinder head or engine block, a VERY expensive repair. If this is the case it's usually easier to replace the whole engine.
Header gaskets are fairly expensive to replace. It depends on the labor rates of the repair facility. I would try to find a local community college that has an automotive degree program. Usually they will charge much less for the fix (to help students learn) than a garage. If that isn't an option I would replace the head gasket and not the whole engine. Of course, if there is other damaged caused by the leaky gasket that is another story. There is a lot of labor involved with replacing a header gasket. I would say anywhere from $500 to $1000 anyway. Hope this helps.
Well it would really depend on the condition of your engine. It would take more labor to repair your engine than it would to just replace it. But unless the engine is very damaged it should be cheaper to have your engine fixed. And replacing the head gasket and having the head repaired should be under the price you were given. A head gasket set for a 4 cyl engine is around $100 wholesale. I would call around and check with other shops next.
Your head bolts are stretched, when it got hot it weakened the metal in the bolts which means that the bolts cannot hold the needed tension on the head. Replace the bolts and you will stop blowing head gaskets. Also use Genuine Toyota head gasket, It will be a bit dearer but they are much better than aftermarket options.
The engine does not need to be removed to replace the head gasket on your engine. More than likely it is an intake gasket that failed and showing the typical symptoms of a blown head gasket. If the intake gasket repair is put off long enough, it can turn into a blown head gasket and I've only had about a 50% success rate replacing the head gasket. They usually work fine for a few months, but the oil and water mix causes the oil to lose it's lubricating properties and even after fixing the cause of the problem, the damage may already be done to the engine bearings and the engine may knock later on down the road. You may want to get a quote on a used replacement engine if you plan on keeping the vehicle for a while and compare to the price of fixing it. In the long run, it will probably be a better solution.
Depending on the mileage of the car, replacing a head gasket is not an uncommon thing. Generally, a head gasket will need to be replaced if the engine was extremely overheated. What you need to look for are any kinds of knocks or tapping when the engine is running. These would be the telltale signs of a bent rod or bad lifters also caused by an extreme overheating. Pull the oil dipstick with engine running and see if there is a milky liquid on it insted of just oil. This will tell you if the head gasket was installed properly. Listen for intenal taps and knocking also while engine is at idle. If the oil looks fine and there are no noises in the engine you should have no worries and consider the head gasket replacement as normal wear and tear.
The head gasket (in your case gaskets) is located on the top of the engine block under the engine cylinder head which is under the Camshaft cover which is the very top of the engine. This car is a V8 engine so it has 2 heads and 2 head gaskets, one on each side of the engine. It is a very expensive job to replace head gaskets.
Yes, you can just do one head gasket, although I wouldn't recommend it. If the head gasket has failed, it's usually because the engine has overheated. If you know that the engine has overheated, it would be best to do both heads. When an engine overheats, the head warps a little. It doesn't take much to change the internal pressures on the gasket, and when the gasket area between the cylinders starts to lighten up a little, the gasket fails. To do the job properly, take the head(s) to a qualified automotive machine shop and have the head resurfaced. Even a slightly warped head will be unable to keep a head gasket. After a head has been resurfaced, it's relatively easy to put it back together. NOTE!! The machine shop will tell you the proper torque and torque sequence. Usually start from the center and work your way out evenly, going from side to side, and top to bottom, but get specific information for YOUR engine from the machine shop. NEVER replace a head gasket without having the head resurfaced.
Many internal engine problems, such as a blown head gasket, cracked head or cracked piston, can be repaired without having to replace an entire engine.
Potential
While taking the time to replace an engine may seem labor-intensive and costly, it will add years to a vehicle's life and will save a car owner from the cost of having to buy a new car.
Benefits
Taking a car to a mechanic and replacing an engine with a used engine can cost between $1,000 to $2,000 for parts and labor.
Solution
Car owners interested in replacing their engines with new ones can expect to pay anywhere between $2,000 to $4,000.
Speculation
For those interested in doing the engine replacement themselves, purchasing specialized tools needed for the job is a cost to consider in addition to the price of a replacement engine.
This would depend on how long you actually ran this vehicle with the failed head gasket. if the temperature was hot enough, it couldhavewarped the heads and replacing the gasket in this case wouldn't fix it. it would still leak.
NOw, if the block head is not warped and it didn't get to hot during the ruptured of the gasket(s), you may not have serious damage to the internals and replacing the gasket would be feasible at this point.
This job can take time and is not easy at all. it will take you and another assistant to complete and it can be hard work. not easy. remember, if your Engine reached a temperature that was really high and it was driven while the gasket was ruptured, it may have done considerable damage to the internals.
You will have to break down the engine to accomplish this repair if you choose to actually replace the gasket(s).
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