Symptoms of a Blown Head Gasket
Before we cover the symptoms of a blown head gasket, you may have questions about what it is. We’ll cover what the head gasket does for your car and how it enables it to perform around Danvers, Wakefield, and Reading, Massachusetts. Then Ira Subaru will inform you about what to look for when the head gasket fails to properly operate.
What Does a Head Gasket Do?
In a combustion engine, the head gasket prevents liquids and gases from leaving the combustion chamber. It prevents the coolant, which surrounds the cylinders, from entering them between power strokes and when the engine is off. It also stops the oil from entering these places so that it can properly cool and lubricate the engine and associated parts.
Symptoms of a Blown Head Gasket
Some symptoms of a blown head gasket may not be readily apparent. It may take the expertise of one of our experienced service technicians to detect that the head gasket may be failing before you know what the problem is.
Coolant Loss
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Your car’s coolant levels can tell you what may be happening in your vehicle. If you consistently must fill up the coolant, it’s possible that your car harbors a leak. Alternatively, your car may be burning coolant, which could result in a blown head gasket.
White Smoke Exiting Tailpipe
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While it’s normal to see white smoke emitting from a cold car's tailpipe, it’s not normal to see it after the car warms up. This could indicate that coolant may be entering the combustion chamber, and the head gasket may be unable to stop it.
Knocking Engine
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Hearing a knocking coming from your engine? Gasket leaks may create deposits within the combustion chamber. This causes pre-ignition, which means that the air and fuel are detonating before they need to do so. It also causes the knocking or pinging that you may hear.
Change in Oil Color
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The oil in your car may look very different than what you expect if your head gasket contains a leak. It may appear milky in color, which is unusual and points toward coolant contaminating the oil.
Car Overheating
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If you start seeing the arrow on your temperature gauge moving and staying in the red zone, your car may be in danger of overheating. This is yet another sign that your head gasket might be blown.
What Causes a Blown Head Gasket?
The head gasket may be blown due to a few root causes. Not sticking to your maintenance schedule could lead to a blown head gasket if you’re not regularly getting service for your car. Overheating may cause the cylinder head or engine block to expand or bend, which may unseal the gasket from its proper place. Pre-ignition, which we described before, may also lead to a blown head gasket. This is due to the intense change in temperatures and excess pressure within the combustion chamber.
After an engine installation, your head gasket may not fit properly or be able to perform its job. Working with head gaskets can be complex when rebuilding or replacing the engine, so this can sometimes happen.
Schedule Gasket Replacement for Your Car
Now that you know what symptoms to look for when determining if your car has a blown head gasket, you should feel confident driving around Danvers, Wakefield, and Reading, MA. Remember to keep up with regular service and contact Ira Subaru if any issues arise.
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