Head gasket
(→Symptoms of a blown head gasket) |
(→Symptoms of a blown head gasket) |
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*Foaming or bubbling coolant. Indicates head gasket has failed between a cylinder and a passage in the water jacket. | *Foaming or bubbling coolant. Indicates head gasket has failed between a cylinder and a passage in the water jacket. | ||
| − | *Rapid pressure buildup in cooling system, before engine is warm. | + | *Rapid pressure buildup in cooling system, before engine is warm. Or, cooling system appears to be malfunctioning. |
| − | *White smoke in exhaust. | + | *Radiator frequently gets low on water (it could be being discharged through the tailpipe). |
| − | *"Milkshake" oil. | + | *White smoke in exhaust, or sweet smelling exhaust. |
| − | *Oil in coolant. | + | *"Milkshake" oil, caused by coolant in oil. |
| + | *Oil in coolant, causing foaming in coolant. | ||
| + | *Oil or coolant leaking from cylinder head. | ||
*Low cylinder pressure. | *Low cylinder pressure. | ||
| + | *Milky-gray ring around the oil cap. It's a coolant deposit. | ||
| + | *Drops of coolant coming out of the tail pipe. | ||
| + | *When the heater is turned on, it smells like coolant. ''(confirm)'' | ||
| + | *Spark plugs with coolant deposits. ''(confirm this, and add info if possible)'' | ||
| + | *Sound of air rushing or whistling coming from cylinder head. You can also listen with a stethoscope. | ||
*Two adjacent cylinders with low but equal pressure. Indicates head gasket failure between the two cylinders. | *Two adjacent cylinders with low but equal pressure. Indicates head gasket failure between the two cylinders. | ||
*Car misfires or runs rough at low speeds, due to antifreeze in the combustion chamber. '''(confirm)''' | *Car misfires or runs rough at low speeds, due to antifreeze in the combustion chamber. '''(confirm)''' | ||
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| + | ==Head gasket repair additives== | ||
| + | Engine additives that claim to repair questionable head gaskets are ill-advised, and, if used, should only be considered a temporary fix. | ||
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| + | ==Damage caused by a blown head gasket== | ||
| + | Time is of the essence when replacing a blown head gasket. If the car overheats, it can warp the cylinder head, especially if it's aluminum. If it warps too much, it will have to be discarded. | ||
==Reasons why head gaskets fail== | ==Reasons why head gaskets fail== | ||
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