A blown head gasket, what exactly is it? Well, it's really not that complicated, read on to learn more about a head gasket, its purpose and warning signs.
Purpose of a Head Gasket
If you take a look at your car's engine, you'll notice that it is made up of two separate parts, a cylinder block and the cylinder head, In the cylinder block you'll find the pistons and cylinders and in the cylinder head you'll find the valves, spark plugs and camshafts. You'll find the head gasket in between these two parts.
The head gasket is one of the most significant gaskets in your car. This is because the head gasket seals the cylinders' firing pressure and also prevents coolant as well as engine oil from leaking in to the cylinders and to the outside of the car.
The head gasket has to be able to withstand the stresses of both of theses surfaces while also fulfilling its purpose.
What Causes a Blown Head Gasket?
There are two main scenarios which may lead to a blown head gasket, namely :-
- An overheating car engine
- Detonation
Overheating Engine
A blown head gasket can occur when your car engine overheats. A car's engine usually operates in very extreme and hot conditions. If and when this heat becomes too much this causes the engine to overheat.
This heat also leads to the cylinder head and engine block expanding to extreme extents which leads to a malfunctioning gasket.
Detonation
Detonation damages the the fire rings and this allows cylinder pressure to leak past the armors/ fire rings.
Symptoms of a Poor Head Gasket
some symptoms of a bad head gasket to look out for are:
- White smoke emitted by the tailpipe
- Bubbling within the radiator
- Bubbling within the coolant reservoir
- lessening coolant
- White coloration in the oil
- Overheating engine
How to Prevent a Blown Head Gasket
In order to prevent a blown head gasket, you must keep your engine coolant at the proper level. It should also have the correct mixture according to the recommendation given by the manufacturer. Make sure to get your vehicle checked out if you notice any leaking.
Do not ignore the signs of a blown head gasket or a failing one, if you need a head gasket repair, we invite you to bring your vehicle to RM Automotive Inc. today!