A blown head gasket is a severe issue indicated by a mix of key symptoms: thick white exhaust smoke, a milky "chocolate milkshake" residue under the oil cap, unexplained coolant loss, persistent engine overheating, and bubbles in the coolant reservoir.
Common Symptoms of a Blown Head Gasket
However, it's not worth repairing if the blown gasket has caused severe damage to the engine block, has high mileage, or other major issues. In these situations, the repair costs may exceed the vehicle's worth and you're better off replacing the vehicle.
The most common misdiagnoses of a blown head gasket are disappearing coolant and an engine that seems to be overheating for no apparent reason. To determine the exact cause, try refilling your cooling system to see if this keeps your car cool. If it does so for several days, then you likely only have a coolant leak.
No, the sooner you get it fixed, the better. Aside from the damage it will do to your engine, driving with a blown head gasket can be dangerous. For starters, if you're checking under the hood to identify the problem, hot escaping coolant can cause burns and even start a fire if you're not careful.
Head gasket repair typically costs $2,400–$3,200 for a modern passenger car, with labor accounting for about two-thirds of the total. More complex engines or extra machine work can raise the total to $4,000–$6,000, mainly due to 8–12 or more hours of labor.
How Do I Fix a Blown Head Gasket at Home?
When a gasket fails it can do serious damage to your car, so it is important to know the warning signs and what you need to do to get it fixed. Depending on how severe the leak or perforation is, a car usually does not last longer than a month with a blown head gasket.
If the blown head gasket has caused catastrophic damage, a complete engine may need to be installed or a new vehicle purchased. If the engine is redeemable, the head gasket should be replaced.
Sealant can be used to repair a head gasket which is slightly damaged and beginning to lose compression. By using a sealant, you can stop coolant and oil from leaking into the cylinders. Sealants for head gaskets can really work, but you need to make sure you're using the correct amount for your engine.
How Long Does a Head Gasket Last? Automakers build head gaskets to last the life of your car. Typically, a head gasket can function effectively for 200,000 miles or more. Factors like your driving style and vehicle maintenance habits may impact this part's lifespan.
Head gasket repairs are costly primarily due to the labor-intensive nature of the process. This involves taking apart critical engine components with skilled precision. The complexity of modern engines requires specialized skills and diagnostic work, contributing to the overall expense.
Once the seal is blown, pressure in the combustion chamber is lost and you'll feel a significant loss of power. If your blown head gasket is causing coolant to leak, your engine is far more likely to overheat.
Puff, Puff, Puff: If you're driving and you hear a rhythmic puff, puff, puff noise coming from your engine, it's time to be concerned. Acceleration and engine power are frequently reduced in tandem with this sound. It's the result of one or more cylinders losing compression due to a damaged head gasket.
A failing head gasket often triggers the check engine light. Misfires or abnormal coolant temperature readings generate diagnostic trouble codes like P0300 (random misfire) or P0118 (engine coolant temperature (ECT) circuit issues).
Compression leak between cylinders: Rough idling, misfires, and a loss of power may indicate that the head gasket has failed between cylinders. This causes a loss of compression as compression leaks from one cylinder to the next and can cause exhaust gasses to flow back into the intake.
Overheating issues – Recurring overheating could indicate further engine damage that needs to be repaired. Loss of power – If the engine struggles, compression loss or internal wear might be at play. There may be piston ring issues or torque concerns at the head bolts.
A blown head gasket fix can be as easy as dumping a bottle of sealant in your radiator, and you're good to go. The seal created from our product is as permanent as replacing the head gasket, but with less money and time. The reinforcing fibers we use in our formulations are what create the permanent bond.
If you blow a head gasket your car will still start and run, but you will be at risk for it overheating (if the blown gasket is between a water passage and a cylinder) in which case you will see white smoke coming out your exhaust, or if the blown gasket is between an oil passage and the cylinder you will lose oil and ...
Here are common signs of a blown head gasket without opening the engine: 1. Overheating engine 2. White smoke from exhaust 3. Milky substance in oil or coolant 4.
Affordable Pricing: Starting at £500, our service is much cheaper than dealership rates (dealerships often quote £1000–£1500 for these repairs).