Blown Head Gasket Symptoms

Why Do Head Gaskets Blow? If you think you are noticing blown head gasket symptoms, you have good reason to be concerned. Head gaskets are an integral part of the operation of an engine. This is because they are positioned between the engine block and cylinder head. This point in the engine is were the combustion fuel and air takes place and creates the high pressure required to move the pistons and keep the motor running. The head gasket needs to be able to keep all that pressure in the combustion chambers as well as keep seal the coolant and oil that flows between the engine block into their respective channels. So it is easy to see that head gaskets have a very vital and high pressure job in the working of an engine.

But what are the most common blown head gasket symptoms? The main cause of blown head gaskets is the overheating of an engine. This can cause a great deal of damage not just to the head gasket but the cylinder head itself can crack, warp or swell. The pistons can swell in the cylinder and seize, valve components can seize as can bearings. Oil can thin out and no longer be efficient in protecting engine components. Another cause of head gasket failure is detonation or misfiring, if exposed to detonation for an extended time can cause the head gasket to be exposed directly to the pressure and heat of the combustion cylinder that can force the head gasket to fail.

What Are The Most Common blown head Gasket Symptoms? There are a wide variety of symptoms to show a head gasket is blown. Compression loss is one symptom the can be noticed by a loss in engine performance or the engine running roughly. A blown head gasket could also allow compression to flow between cylinders. These symptoms can be easily checked by a mechanic using a pressure gauge, or for a more definite result, a leak-down test. Another symptom of a blown head gasket is further overheating. This can be caused by the head gasket allowing exhaust gases into the coolant chambers causing the engine to overheat. A further symptom of a blown head gasket is the mixing of oil and coolant caused by the part of the head gasket between the two channels failing. This causes further overheating problems and engine wear.

Another one of the most often seen blown head gasket symptoms is blue exhaust smoke. This symptom can be cause by the head gasket allowing oil into the combustion cylinders. If the head gasket is allowing coolant into the combustion cylinder it could cause the symptom of steam from the exhaust. If a large amount of coolant is allowed to flow into the combustion cylinder it may cause the engine to lock, which results in extensive engine damage. You may notice this symptom of a blown head gasket if there is a large coolant loss without any noticeable cause. If you notice any of these symptoms of a blown head gasket in your vehicle, stop driving it as soon as possible and seek a professional assessment.