What are the consequences of continuing to drive after a blown cylinder head gasket?
1 Answers
The consequences of continuing to drive after a blown cylinder head gasket include cylinder scoring, bearing seizure, bearing burning, and cylinder explosion. The functions of the cylinder head gasket are: 1. Connecting the cylinder head and cylinder block; 2. Sealing engine oil, coolant, and internal cylinder gases; 3. Dissipating heat generated in the cylinder block through the cylinder head. The cylinder head gasket is the seal between the cylinder block and cylinder head. When it fails, combustion gases enter the coolant passages, forcing coolant out through the radiator cap. Insufficient coolant leads to overheating, and complete coolant loss may cause cylinder scoring. Once the gasket fails, the seal between cylinder block and head is compromised, allowing combustion gases to expel coolant. Prolonged driving under these conditions prevents proper cylinder cooling as coolant gradually depletes, leading to overheating and potential cylinder explosion.