The head gasket is located in the middle of the cylinder head and the engine block. It is a small yet vital component, as it seals the internal combustion process that allows the oil and coolant to travel across the engine to lubricate and keep it from overheating. Hence, if you are ever left with a blown head gasket, then it could cause trouble for the machine. The symptoms of the same are easy to identify and require quick rectification to prevent further damage to your vehicle's engine. Here we learn more about the head gasket, its functions, and how to identify if it fails. By the end of this blog, you will also know more about what you can do in case any of your motor parts are not functioning properly or have experienced irreparable damage.
What is a Head Gasket?
Apart from sealing the engine's combustion processes, the head gasket also seals the combustion chamber in the machine. This permits the vehicle to produce the power that is required for it to move forward. It also keeps harmful gasses from leaving the chamber by directing them via the exhaust system. The gasket in a relatively new car has several steel layers entwined with elastomer, ensuring they are more long-lasting and durable. In older cars, the head gasket was made of asbestos and graphite. The new gaskets are less prone to leakage and do not have as many health risks as the older ones.
The head gasket is an essential component that is present inside the combustible engine. It ensures the pressure generated from the ignition of fuel vapors of the plug remains within the chamber. The combustion chamber also contains pistons and requires high pressure to ensure the latter continues to fire appropriately. The coolant and oil also have significant jobs, but for them to perform their tasks within the engine, it is essential that they do not mix. The head gasket ensures the chambers are separated so the fluids do not cross-contaminate.
What Causes a Head Gasket to Blow?
The most common cause of a damaged, blown gasket is usually overheating of the engine. The engine's High temperatures are generally caused by the absence of coolant within the radiator because of a possible leak. A head gasket can become weak due to this as they are more sensitive to heat. Higher temperatures can also result in the object changing its shape, producing an outcome that is not favorable. The distortion, expansion, or cracking of a cylinder head because of heat prevents the engine gasket from shutting correctly.
If there is a situation of a blown head gasket, it is crucial to address it immediately. Operating the vehicle when the head gasket has blown can result in irreversible damage to the car's engine. The engine head gasket is used to seal it and maintain its pressure, which is crucial to powering the vehicle. If your engine's gasket blows, that means it can no longer shut, which will result in the pressure to escape. This will then reduce the power of the engine, which is a vital sign of a blown head gasket. Also, the coolant and oil passageways can begin leaking. If the coolant mixes with the engine oil in the combustion chambers, that will also reduce its effectiveness of keeping the engine cool, which will also result in overheating.
Symptoms of Blown Head Gasket
Following are the blown gasket symptoms that you need to watch out for and get fixed immediately to avoid your engine from suffering irreparable damage:
1) Overheating of engine:
Your head gasket in the engine may get blown if the latter overheats. This is also one of the causes of a blown head gasket. If your vehicle's engine has to work harder to generate power, that possibly means it has a blown head gasket. This can also result in your coolant leaking, making the engine underperform further and then letting it heat up more.
2) Tailpipe generating white smoke:
The coolant for the engine is usually water, and when it is burnt, vapor is generated from the tailpipe of the vehicle. This is visible as white smoke, which is one of the blown head gasket symptoms. If the engine is not using up the coolant, but the latter's level is still relatively low, you may want to check for leaks elsewhere in the coolant system or outside the engine, where the block joins with the cylinder head. This is also what causes a blown head gasket.
3) Low level of coolant:
If the head gasket comes in the middle of the coolant channel and the combustion chambers of your engine, then it may begin to consume the coolant liquid. This will then cause the engine to overheat because of the insufficient levels of coolant, which will then result in damaging the head gasket. A machine that burns the coolant shows other symptoms, as well as the car head gasket being blown. This is also one of the significant blown head gasket symptoms as well as causes.
4) Engine knock/rough idle:
If the gasket blows highly, then it will result in your vehicle's engine losing compression. This can further result in the engine functioning at idle or knocking and stalling. However, other problems can result in the machine functioning roughly working as well; if the head gasket in a car has a leak, you can have a technician check it out by performing a compression leak test on the vehicle. If the gasses are mixed in the combustion chambers with the engine oil, then it possibly means that your car's head gasket has failed internally.
5) Contaminated liquids:
It is a known fact that water and oil cannot be mixed. However, if a vehicle's coolant mixes with your engine oil, the mixture loses its quality of being a lubricant, letting the engine function smoothly. This also results in the head gasket getting blown. If the car's gasket gets blown, the two liquids can mix. This creates a frothy mixture, and it collects in the oil filter cap of the engine. So if you suspect your head gasket has leaked, you must act. First, you have to remove the engine's oil filler cap and look at the underneath part. If you witness a pale oil and foamy build-up, then it is likely that the coolant has contaminated the oil of the engine, causing the head gasket to blow. It is important to have your gasket or any other motor parts examined in case you feel there is something amiss because if not looked into, it can lead to extreme damage.
Usually, when a head gasket begins to blow, you start experiencing or witnessing one of these symptoms as early warning signs. However, if not acted upon, the warning signs can become extreme, causing the engine head gaskets to be damaged. If you suspect your head gasket has leaked or damaged, then you can either have it repaired or consider buying a new one from Allied Motor Parts. We specialize in giving high-quality motor parts for your vehicle, such as a head gasket, cylinder head, etc. Repairing a damaged part may not seem like much at the beginning as compared to buying a new one. However, once a piece such as the head gasket is damaged, it will continue to wear even after repairs. So, instead of spending the money on fixing the part that will continue to give you issues in the future, you can just pay to replace it. This will ensure that your entire driving experience is hassle-free and, in the long run, is also easier on the pocket than having to pay for constant repairs of the head gasket.
Get Help
Extreme damage to the engine of a vehicle because of the head gasket getting blown is one of the most unfavorable types of engine issues. A busted gasket that is not paid attention to may need the engine block to be repaired, or the cylinder heads as well, or worse, the engine to be replaced entirely. If you see any symptoms of your car's gasket being blown, you should not waste more time and have it inspected immediately. Allied Motor Parts will help you examine the parts that are possibly damaging your car's engine and will also help you replace them with the best quality parts in the market at the best rates. Our employees have the required knowledge as well as experience to help fix your engine and also suggest which is the best part to replace the damaged ones with. If you feel unsafe driving your own vehicle in case of a damaged motor part, contact us, and we will have one of our experienced technicians reach you. When you require your damaged motor parts to be repaired or replaced immediately, Allied Motor Parts is the most trusted source for you. You can go through our website to check out our various motor parts. You can contact us for more information regarding your vehicle's components and replacing them.
