# Leaking head gasket

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/leaking-head-gasket/57502>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** nissan, xterra\
**Created:** [November 12, 2010, 9:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/leaking-head-gasket/57502 "2010-11-12T21:43:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![montocarloblues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9e5f3/32.png) [@montocarloblues](https://community.cartalk.com/u/montocarloblues)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 9:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/leaking-head-gasket/57502/1 "2010-11-12T21:43:18Z")

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I was told that i have a leaking head gasket on my 2000 nissian x-terra. the x-terra has 78500 miles on it. he wants to charge $2000.00 to change it out, in your all opioion is it worth it? should i bite the bullet and look at new cars? it does it terrible gas mileage but it is payed off. cars are high so are the taxes. let me know what u think.

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**Author:** ![indy4192](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/aeb1de/32.png) [@indy4192](https://community.cartalk.com/u/indy4192)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 10:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/leaking-head-gasket/57502/2 "2010-11-12T22:24:22Z")

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I had the same issue but on a 98 Taurus. When you say change out do you mean a new/rebuilt engine or he will fix the head gasket? Also have you looked around your area what $2000 might buy you in a new used car?

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**Author:** ![eraser1998](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6de8d8/32.png) [@eraser1998](https://community.cartalk.com/u/eraser1998)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 10:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/leaking-head-gasket/57502/3 "2010-11-12T22:28:30Z")

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Shop around on this repair. This is a labor intensive job, but it should not take much in parts, unless you’ve cracked a head or warped it so badly that it can’t be machined. If you have a 4 cylinder, it should be closer to $1000 and $1500 for a V6.

You’d be hard pressed to find a decent used car at those prices, and without doing the repair, you won’t get squat in resale - you’re likely better off doing the repair, and THEN if you decide you want better gas mileage selling it and getting something new.

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**Author:** ![montocarloblues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9e5f3/32.png) [@montocarloblues](https://community.cartalk.com/u/montocarloblues)\
**Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 3:44am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/leaking-head-gasket/57502/4 "2010-11-14T03:44:45Z")

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replace the head gasket.

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**Author:** ![Goldwing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@Goldwing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Goldwing)\
**Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 3:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/leaking-head-gasket/57502/5 "2010-11-14T03:50:41Z")

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That’s low mileage to need a head gasket. What are the symptoms? I’d get a 2nd or 3rd opinion.