What can be mistaken for blown head gasket?

The most common misdiagnoses of a blown head gasket are disappearing coolant and an engine that seems to be overheating for no apparent reason .

How do I know for sure if I have a blown head gasket?

There is an easy way to find out if your engine's head gasket has blown. Simply check under the oil filler cap . If the gasket is not damaged, the inside of the oil cap will be mostly dry. If you discover a milky brownish-yellow substance that is similar to the thickness of a milkshake, you probably have a gasket leak.

What does a car run like with a blown head gasket?

A bad enough head gasket leak will cause the engine to lose compression. This can lead to the engine running roughly at idle, knocking and even stalling . However, other problems can cause the engine to run roughly or knock.

Will a car still start with a blown head gasket?

Blown head gaskets can allow water, oil or even air to enter one or more cylinders. Usually the engine can still be started .

Can you have a blown head gasket without losing coolant?

Can a blown head gasket cause overheating without losing coolant? If compression from a cylinder leaks through a bad head gasket and into the cooling system, it will cause excessive pressure in the cooling system which can cause overheating without actually having a coolant leak.

Will I have water in my oil if I have a blown head gasket?

If oil can enter the cooling system, there is a high chance that water/coolant can enter the oil circulatory system . This can result in white smoke escaping the exhaust, and a creamy liquid on the oil filler cap, both of which are indicative of a blown head gasket.

Can you have a blown head gasket without overheating?

For sure, if it just blows between cylinders it wont overheat . If it blows directly out the side of the gap cylinder head and block, if it blows just into an oil gallery it will just pressurise the crankcase. If it blows just between oil gallery and coolant gallery it will mix the two but not overheat.

Does bubbling coolant always mean blown head gasket?

If your vehicle's coolant is bubbling, it is highly likely that your vehicle has a blown head gasket .

Can a blown head gasket show no symptoms?

A very small crack in the head can cause asymptomatic or lightly symptomatic issues . They can creep up on you in a number of ways. You may find that the car is using coolant, but you never see any leaking underneath. Or you may notice that there's white sweet-smelling exhaust coming out the tailpipe.

Can you smell a blown head gasket?

4) White Smoke A faulty head gasket most often results in billowing clouds of sweet-smelling white smoke coming from the exhaust.

How long will an engine last with a blown head gasket?

When a gasket fails it can do serious damage to your car, so it is important to know the warning signs and what you need to do to get it fixed. Depending on how severe the leak or perforation is, a car usually does not last longer than a month with a blown head gasket.

Is it worth to fix a blown head gasket?

Still having trouble deciding whether fixing your head gasket is a good investment? Here's a rule of thumb: Only replace the head gasket if the vehicle is worth at least double the cost of the repair . If it's not, you're likely better off getting a new (to you) car.

Can a blown head gasket be misdiagnosed?

A lot of issues with head gaskets are similar to symptoms for other engine problems. This means it's fairly common for the following engine problems to be wrongly diagnosed as a blown or leaking head gasket.

Signs of a Blown Head Gasket (2024)

Your car’s engine is divided into two parts, the cylinder block where the pistons and cylinders reside and the cylinder head where the valves, spark plugs and camshaft(s) are located. Cushioned between these two massive engine parts is the head gasket.

One of the most critical gaskets in your engine, the head gasket is designed to seal the cylinders’ firing pressure and to prevent coolant and engine oil from leaking into the cylinders as well as to the outside. The head gasket must withstand the stresses of the two surfaces expanding, shrinking, warping and rubbing while sealing in cylinder pressure, coolant and engine oil running through casting ports.

Blown head gasket causes

Your car’s engine operates in extreme conditions with intense heat. If this heat becomes more than normal, your engine can overheat causing a blown head gasket. The extra heat results in the cylinder head and engine block expanding too much which results in a failure in the head gasket. Detonation is another cause of head gasket failure because it damages the armors or fire rings, allowing cylinder pressure to leak past the armors.

Bad head gasket symptoms

Because the cylinder head gasket seals coolant passages, a blown head gasket will allow coolant to enter the cylinders. Coolant in the cylinders will cause:

White smoke coming from the tailpipe

BUBBLING IN THE RADIATOR AND COOLANT RESERVOIR

unexplained coolant loss with no leaks

Milky white coloration in the oil

Engine overheating

Since the cylinder head gasket also seals in the coolant and oil, you may see streaks of oil and coolant streaming down from the gasket.

You may also notice a loss of engine power due to lower cylinder compression if the head gasket leaks to adjacent cylinders.

If you experience any of these symptoms, the cooling system may be pressurized, shut the engine down and do not attempt to release the pressure. Have your vehicle looked at by your professional technician and always use replacement gaskets that meet or exceed the original manufacturer’s specifications.

How can I prevent a blown head gasket?

The best way to prevent head gasket failure in your car is to keep the engine coolant at the proper level with the correct mixture according to the manufacturer’s recommendation. If you experience coolant leaks on the ground or garage floor, have it checked out. Also, make it a habit to keep an eye on your temperature gauge; if you notice it running hot, have it immediately checked out by your professional technician.

Learn more about Fel-Proquality gasketsthat are specifically designed for the repair environment, find yourcar part, or find where to buy your auto part today.

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