A blown head gasket is not instant engine death, but it does require extensive repair work. Oxford Automotive can replace the head gasket above the cylinder block if it is cracked. The most common reason why the head gasket will crack is that you are operating your engine when it is overheating. It is crucial to replace the head gasket right away. You should not drive your vehicle with a blown head gasket.
1. Low Coolant Level
One reason why is that the crack in the head gasket immediately lowers the coolant level in the engine. The head gasket forms a seal over the cylinder block to prevent the coolant from leaking into it. Unfortunately, when the gasket blows, the coolant leaks into the cylinder block. This means you do not have as much coolant circulating through the engine, and the engine will overheat.
2. Overheating Engine
In fact, the engine will overheat right away. It won’t take long for the coolant to drain into the cylinders and for the temperature gauge on your dashboard to rise to the red level. Driving your automobile with an overheating engine cannot only damage the head gasket further but also crack the engine block and the exhaust manifold. Pull over and call for a tow truck if your engine is too hot.
3. Coolant That Boils
If you continue to drive your vehicle, you may also end up with boiling coolant in the radiator. This is how hot the engine can get when the head gasket is cracked. As you can imagine, this can also cause the radiator cap to explode and leave you with scalding coolant spraying all over the engine. This is extremely dangerous. Please do not drive your automobile if the engine is overheating.
4. White Exhaust Smoke
Even if the engine temperature is relatively normal, which is pretty much unheard of, you will also notice that you have white exhaust smoke flowing out of the tailpipe. This is the color the exhaust turns when the coolant is being burned in the cylinder block. Unfortunately, the engine continues to produce combustion, which means the extra fluid in the cylinders are burned with the fuel and air.
5. Diluted Motor Oil
Another fluid that can make its way into the cylinder block when the head gasket blows is the motor oil. This can cause blue exhaust to flow out of the tailpipe. A cracked head gasket will also cause a mixture of motor oil and engine coolant to circulate through your engine. This can seriously damage the engine.
Call Oxford Automotive in Oxford, PA, today if you are having any of the problems discussed above. Arrange to have your vehicle towed to our shop.
