Is this reasonable charges for replacing head gaskets?

[mainstream]

I know two guys still waiting for their boats to be fixed since June and there are no other mech available since we have a short season and it is the prime time. I'm sure they wish they could of got a one month turn around but I do agree that if you start something you should work through it but things pop up like parts don't show up or the wrong ones do so you do something else until they get there. It's part of the service business I guess but good luck and I hope your done with your troubles

 

[sea hare]

This is the reason I try to do all the work myself.... I hate surprises and nothing is ever cheap. With enough research, reading, manuals, etc, I figure if one guy can do it, why cant I. It also gets done on my schedule so i cant complain about how long its taking. I blew a head gasket 2 years ago between cylinders 3 and 4. When I was all done I had lots of hours studying but i think i fixed it for around $500, thats including machining the head and buying a compression tester and other tools.

 

[magstang1]

AFD - he didn't expend much effort getting the boat, he works in the marina, so it's about 100 yards from my boat to his shop. I agree that I can't complain about the $70 an hour, and I don't think he's trying to screw me or anything. But it took him a full month to get it done (7/5 - 8/5), which I'm sure increased the hours somewhat. If you do a job straight through, you probably end up wasting a lot less time than starting, stopping, starting, stopping... I WILL get him a case of beer, though in retrospect I should have done that when I gave him the boat to fix! )

It's not about effort. It's about convenience. I'm sure he pays a premium to be the on site mechanic. It's only natural for the marina customers to come to him. You're just lucky his rates are reasonable. I don't even bother with the services on site at my marina. Their prices are some of the highest around. But guess what, they're always busy.

 

[Gunn]

What really annoyed me about the whole thing was I kept asking for an estimate, e.g., "What's it going to cost to tear this down to the heads and find out what's wrong?", and similar questions, and kept receiving answers like, "I can't tell you till I get in there." It may not have changed things, but it would have been nice to not be quite so sticker shocked when they were done!

I hear you on this; while I don't let anyone else fix my things, I just don't understand how these professionals, with years of experience and history can't give a very accurate price on a situation like this. If they are as experienced as they say they are, then they must have a very good idea of what they are going to find once they tear into a job. Or at least they should be able to narrow it down enough to throw out a few pricing options. I just don't get it.

This is the reason I try to do all the work myself.... I hate surprises and nothing is ever cheap. With enough research, reading, manuals, etc, I figure if one guy can do it, why cant I. It also gets done on my schedule so i cant complain about how long its taking. I blew a head gasket 2 years ago between cylinders 3 and 4. When I was all done I had lots of hours studying but i think i fixed it for around $500, thats including machining the head and buying a compression tester and other tools.

I'm with you here. I figure if they can do it, then surely I can to. And the money I save in labor I can spend some of it on new toys...err, tools. Some may say they don't have the time which seems like a legitimate answer, but having your boat sit on the hard since June, well, I would make the time to fix it myself!

 

[frankn88]

Thanks for the info/opinions guys. I prefer doing my own work too, but in this case, it didn't work out so well... If only I'd chased those damn threads! Might have saved $3k...that hurts. Oh well, live and learn. Next time I'll know better.

 

[sea hare]

Thanks for the info/opinions guys. I prefer doing my own work too, but in this case, it didn't work out so well... If only I'd chased those damn threads! Might have saved $3k...that hurts. Oh well, live and learn. Next time I'll know better.

dont be too hard on yourself about not chasing the threads... I didnt do it either cuz i just didnt really know at the time, and would consider my fix a success after 2 years running with no trouble... Also, when you put the head back on did you follow the correct bolt tightening pattern? I think thats probably more important than chasing the threads

 

[frankn88]

I did, but the torque wrench I used was of the non-clicking variety, i.e., not as accurate, so that probably didn't help either.

 

[wileecoyote]

I have to step up and defend auto/boat technicians. It would be nice to get out the crystal ball and be able to quote a price right off the bat, the only problem is once you make a quote it's difficult to go back and requote when there are other issues.
Working in a shop, people want a quote from the get go and that is just not practical with many engine issues. Had he quoted a head gasket and then come back and tell you that the head or block was cracked, you would be pissed and complaining that " Why did you quote me X and now wants more money?"
I can't tell you how many jobs get quoted and bolts break, other components you remove break, parts are unavailable, etc.. Then your stuck working for free.
Try going to the doctor and telling him to give you a final quote to fix the pain in your back, and then expect it to be fixed the first time for the quoted price.

I have worked on the other side, and thankfully can fix, or figure out how to fix just about everything, but there is a saying " sometime you get the bear and sometime it gets you"
You may make out on one job and get screwed on another. You just hope they average out.

Sorry to ramble on, just irks me that some don't understand the difficulty it takes to diagnose and repair some mechanical problems from the first look. That's why I go bonkers when people will post "My engine wont start sometimes and makes a noise, how do I fix it?" It's a process that take the proper time, information, and skill.

 

[frankn88]

I agree with you, but I certainly didnt expect him to be able to just know exactly what was wrong and give me an exact estimate. we discussed that it was probably a blown head gasket and I think he should at least be able to say it'll be about 4 hours to remove the heads and about 8 hours to put everything back together and if we find problems with the valves it'll cost around another $300 for machine shop work. An auto mechanic can always give me an estimate, why can't he? caveat the hell out if it, but give me some idea.
By the way, I already paid them.

 

[Gunn]

I did, but the torque wrench I used was of the non-clicking variety, i.e., not as accurate, so that probably didn't help either.

I don't know...I have rebuilt a few small block automotive engines back a few years using those needle pointing torque wrenches before I got a set of the clicker style, and I kind of think they were pretty accurate, as the mechanism of how they worked made sense to me (and was easy to see). And I know that one of those engines I rebuilt 20+ years ago is still going strong in my '66 Chevelle!

Tom

 

[Bob & Sue]

I have to step up and defend auto/boat technicians. It would be nice to get out the crystal ball and be able to quote a price right off the bat, the only problem is once you make a quote it's difficult to go back and requote when there are other issues.
Working in a shop, people want a quote from the get go and that is just not practical with many engine issues. Had he quoted a head gasket and then come back and tell you that the head or block was cracked, you would be pissed and complaining that " Why did you quote me X and now wants more money?"
I can't tell you how many jobs get quoted and bolts break, other components you remove break, parts are unavailable, etc.. Then your stuck working for free.
Try going to the doctor and telling him to give you a final quote to fix the pain in your back, and then expect it to be fixed the first time for the quoted price.

I have worked on the other side, and thankfully can fix, or figure out how to fix just about everything, but there is a saying " sometime you get the bear and sometime it gets you"
You may make out on one job and get screwed on another. You just hope they average out.

Sorry to ramble on, just irks me that some don't understand the difficulty it takes to diagnose and repair some mechanical problems from the first look. That's why I go bonkers when people will post "My engine wont start sometimes and makes a noise, how do I fix it?" It's a process that take the proper time, information, and skill.

I totally agree if you quote someone even a guesstimate it's going to be something like this
1) It will cost you $2500 to $3500 as a customer you hear $2500
2) It will cost you $2500 to $3500 as a mechanic he will say I told you around $3500

That's just human nature to hear what you want it to be not what was stated.

With anything you need to get an estimate in writing a much easier way not to get sticker shock is to agree on an estimate for diagnosis in writing every change made to the agreed estimate must be in writing, after diagnostic is done get an estimate in writing for repairs prior to starting work with wording that any change made to the estimate over ? amount must be approved prior to doing them or it will not be paid for by you.
I know most mechanics will not agree to do this but I have found several that only work this way it protects you and them any good shop wants to build their reputation Using a written estimate also makes any further problems that may come up in the future much easier to negotiate a price to repair it.

 

[Gary Hill]

While I agree with the estimating and quoting comments, the amount of time charged to the OP is ridicules!

Just my 2 cents as I have been doing this kind if work all my life. Just helped my best friend rebuild his two 4.3 v6 Merc's over the winter. At least my wife finds me handy!