What are the symptoms of a blown engine head gasket?
2 Answers
When an engine head gasket blows, the following symptoms may occur: 1. Overheating: The main symptoms include weakened acceleration, a sputtering sound during acceleration when a cylinder is misfiring, a small amount of water being expelled from the exhaust pipe, white smoke emission, and if there is an oily liquid in the radiator, it indicates a coolant passage leak, while water in the engine oil indicates an oil passage leak. 2. Gas leakage: High-pressure and high-temperature gases may escape through the head gasket, leading to reduced engine power, stalling, or inability to operate at high speeds or under full load. 3. Oil leakage: Engine oil may leak from the head gasket, causing excessive oil consumption in the oil pan and potentially leading to engine issues such as crankshaft burning. 4. Coolant leakage: Coolant may leak from the head gasket, resulting in significant coolant loss, which can cause engine dry burning and cylinder deformation. 5. Coolant entering the oil pan: Significant coolant loss and emulsification of engine oil may occur, leading to crankshaft burning and engine dry burning, causing cylinder deformation. 6. Gas entering the oil pan: This can cause the breather to leak gas, resulting in poor lubrication of engine components such as the camshaft and rocker arms, and reduced engine power. 7. Gas entering the coolant system: This can cause the radiator to leak gas, leading to reduced engine power, poor cooling, and cylinder deformation.
As a veteran with decades of experience in auto repair, I've seen countless cases of blown head gaskets. The symptoms are quite obvious. The first sign is usually a sudden spike in the engine temperature gauge, with coolant temperature shooting into the red zone - a serious warning signal. Then you'll notice rapid coolant loss, bubbling in the radiator, and white smoke (like steam) coming from the exhaust. The car will feel significantly underpowered, with the engine struggling and sometimes making a knocking sound. When checking the oil, you'll find it has turned milky or cloudy due to coolant contamination. If ignored long-term, this can lead to engine seizure or complete failure. My advice: always inspect cooling system seals during maintenance, use high-quality coolant, and be cautious with high-temperature operations. Good prevention can save you big money.
