What are the symptoms of a blown head gasket in a car?

[NorahLee]

When a car's head gasket is blown, the following symptoms may occur: 1. The radiator may show signs of backflow with bubbles appearing, the water temperature rises, and white smoke is emitted from the exhaust. 2. The engine oil may emulsify and turn white, or some may enter the cylinders, resulting in blue smoke from the exhaust. 3. The vehicle may experience noticeable engine power loss, reduced acceleration performance, and in severe cases, knocking noises from the cylinders. Common reasons for head gasket failure include: 1. Excessive engine load, where high temperature and pressure in the cylinders cause the gasket to be impacted and burned. 2. Poor quality of the head gasket itself, burnt edges, or uneven wrapping of the asbestos board and retaining ring leading to cylinder leakage. 3. Poor driving habits, such as frequently slamming the accelerator or rapid acceleration, which can cause excessive pressure in the cylinders.