so im finally getting my head gasket job in a few weeks, its about $2300USD. it includes genuine parts (head gasket, intake/exhaust gaskets, valve cover gasket), resurfacing, carbon cleaning.

is there anything else that i should have the mechanic do while he's there? belt tensioner? chain guides? water pump and rear pipe? i dont think he'll be adding any extra labor cost.

2012 countryman S All4 with 170,xxx miles.

 

why do you need the head gasket done?

 

chocolate milk in oil cap and bubbles coming into reservoir when running. original thread

 

I looked over the OP. someone suggested doing a block tester. autozone has that tool for rent and it test whether you have gasses in the coolant or not. the chocolate milk on the oil cap is normal specially when the engine hasnt warmed up, in other words, it's just condensation.

 

N18 engine has coolant and oil going through the oil filter housing. Its possible that you are getting mixing there, too. I would do the oil filter housing gaskets before pulling the head...

If you do go through with pulling the head, I would get the timing chain, water pump and cross over pipe, possibly thermostat changed out, too.

 

i couldnt find a block tester in my city but the coolant reservoir smelled like fuel. i used Steel Seal for a bandaid and it cured all my problems.

Thank you for the recommendations! Last year the transmission cooler failed and wrecked the transmission. had a shop replace it as well as the orings for the oil filter housing and oil cooler and other leaks that he was able to get to with the transmission out. What worried me was the bubbles in the reservoir and the fuel smell and white smoke from the tail pipe even after a long drive.