What are the symptoms of a damaged cylinder head gasket in a sedan?
2 Answers
Here are the symptoms of a damaged cylinder head gasket in a sedan: 1. Engine cylinder head leakage. When the cylinder head gasket is damaged, it will cause poor sealing between the cylinder head and the cylinder block, ultimately leading to gas leakage. Due to the leakage of oil and water, the leakage area will be accompanied by splashes of oil and water, along with the sound of gas mixed with liquid splashing. 2. Reduced cylinder pressure. Compressed gas in the cylinder will leak through the gaps, or the leaking gas will enter other cylinders, eventually causing unstable engine operation. 3. Oil and water leakage. If the cylinder head gasket is damaged, it will lead to the leakage of coolant and engine oil. 4. Gas entering the oil or coolant passages. When high-pressure gas enters the oil or coolant passages, it will affect the engine's cooling and lubrication, leading to increased engine temperature and accelerated wear of engine components. Additionally, a large number of bubbles can be seen emerging from the expansion tank.
I just experienced a blown head gasket. While driving my sedan, the car suddenly started shaking violently, especially when accelerating—it felt like something was holding it back. Then the temperature gauge shot up to the red line, and the warning light kept flashing nonstop. I almost broke down on the road. When I popped the hood, I saw coolant leaking visibly, leaving a wet patch on the ground, and the dipstick showed milky white foam mixed into the engine oil. Even scarier, thick white smoke was pouring from the exhaust pipe with a pungent, burnt-sweet smell. This indicated coolant had seeped into the combustion chamber, causing these abnormalities. Head gaskets usually fail due to aging or heat-induced warping. Ignoring it could lead to total engine failure and costly repairs. My advice: at the first sign of these symptoms, shut off the engine immediately, check the cooling system, and visit a professional repair shop for diagnosis and gasket replacement—safety first.