Head gasket

[nic3c]

If the cam belt goes, damaged valves need replacing and the head needs skimming, but does the head gasket also need changing?

[Impret-Sir]

In my experience it would be considered false economy to have all that done and then not replace the head gasket. And for my money, I would say that if the head is off because of a belt faliure then skimming it will probably not be needed. If the head gasket had blown then that would be different.

[nic3c]

Thanks, a garage blew my engine up, so as they are fixing it at their expense i was just wondering whether they should have changed the head gasket aswell.

[lebesset]

once a head gasket has been compressed it can NEVER be used again
I once had a land rover engine repaired by a professional ..due to problems he lifted the head 4 times without running the engine , as it was his mistake he paid for the last three!