Blown Head Gasket Symptoms

The head gasket plays a very important role in the overall functioning of the internal combustion engine in cars. A blown head gasket can cause some serious damage, costing you a lot in car repair. That's why, knowing blown head gasket symptoms is absolutely necessary.

What is the Function of a Head Gasket?
A head gasket is a type of gasket or seal, that's fitted between the piston cylinder head and the engine block, inside a car. The automobile's motive force is provided by an internal combustion engine which constitutes its heart. For combustion to occur inside a piston chamber, high compression pressure needs to be achieved, which is made possible because of the sealing provided by the head gasket.

Thus, a head gasket performs the important task of completely sealing engine cylinder from one side, to achieve and maintain the necessary compression pressure. Sealing ensures that the vaporized gas in the engine does not leak out. The second task which a head gasket achieves is the prevention of coolant or engine oil leakage in the combustion chambers and prevention of their mixing. So the condition of a blown head gasket can cause engine malfunctioning.

Engine overheating may cause a head gasket to blow and it may lead to a lot of problems like leakage of oil, leading to chronic overheating and oil dilution. The engine power significantly diminishes due to a blown head gasket. The dilution of engine oil due to coolant mixing, can reduce lubrication levels of the engine, ultimately leading to permanent damage. That's why, it's important to know blown head gasket symptoms and save the engine from permanent damage.

Blown Head Gasket Causes
There are two important causes of a blown head gasket. The first reason, which I already mentioned is engine overheating. All the engine parts are made of metal. So, when the temperature of an engine heats beyond a point, metal body of the engine expands and leads to blowing of the head gasket.

The second cause that leads to a blown head gasket is abnormal combustion, leading to pre-ignition or detonation problems of an engine, which puts strain on the valves and the head gasket, which seals the combustion chambers.

Besides these, there may be some inherent structural problems, caused due to the wrong choice of material for the head gasket. If the gasket is manufactured from aluminum, then there is a higher chance of having a blown head gasket, due to that metal's high thermal expansion rate. So, a head gasket made of iron is preferred, as it has comparatively lower thermal expansion rate. Another reason might be improper installation of the head gasket.

Prime Blown Head Gasket Symptoms
A blown head gasket can lead to repairs to the tune of $1000 to $3000. However, if one is able to see the signs of blown head gasket, in advance, you can prevent the car engine from major repairs. Expert car mechanics can easily make a blown head gasket diagnosis, by looking for symptoms of blown head gasket through observation. Here is a compilation of blown head gasket symptoms that you should check out.

Symptom #1: Chronic Engine Overheating
One major blown head gasket symptom is a consistently high temperature of the car engine. This is a symptom that can be easily checked from the temperature gauge of the car dashboard. So, chronic engine overheating is both a cause and symptom of a blown head gasket.

Symptom #2: Significant Drop in Coolant Level
Check the engine coolant level. If it has dropped suddenly, then there is a possibility that the head gasket has blown up.

Symptom #3: Mixing of Coolant and Engine Oil
Check out the engine oil of your car. If you notice a frothy formation on the dipstick, then there is a possibility that coolant and engine oil have gotten mixed due to a blown head gasket.

Symptom #4: White Smoke from Exhaust Pipe
If you notice emission of sweet smelling white smoke along with water droplets from the exhaust pipe, then there are chances that a head gasket has been blown off.

Symptom #5: Popping of Coolant Overflow Tank Cap
Let the engine rest and cool down for about twenty minutes. Then open the car hood and locate the coolant overflow tank. If you remove the tank cap and it makes a popping sound, that means the cooling system is still pressurized even after engine has shutdown. This is a clear blown head gasket symptom.

Symptom #6: Air Bubbles in Radiator
Another symptom to watch out for is the appearance of air bubbles in your radiator, along with a strong smell. You may also notice the occurrence of high back pressure, when you open the radiator cap.

Symptom #7: Engine Lacks Power
Engine running tends to be rough and you may experience loss in power while driving. This is due to the loss of compression pressure because of a blown head gasket. A compression meter test is the best way of verifying whether a blown head gasket is indeed the problem.

Hope, this compilation of blown head gasket symptoms was useful. Like a human body shows symptoms of disease, malfunctioning of a car device can show early symptoms. If they are diagnosed early, you can save yourself from extensive damage and repairs. That's why, maintaining a car is not a simple job. Either you must have a good car mechanic, or you need to develop an eye for catching symptoms of impending car problems.