2 Signs That Your Car's Engine Has A Blown Head Gasket

While driving down the road, you may have noticed that your car has started to lose power, especially when trying to go up inclines and hills. One of the possible problems that can cause this issue is a blown head gasket, which is a gasket that helps separate the coolant and oil lines and keeps the right pressure within the engine. Since a blown head gasket can lead to complete destruction of your engine if it is not addressed, look for the following tell-tale signs indicating that your car needs immediate professional attention.

1.  Thick, White Smoke Coming out of the Exhaust

One of the first things you should look at when trying to determine whether your car has a blown head gasket is the smoke coming out of the exhaust. Normally, you should not be able to easily detect the exhaust except for when you first start up your vehicle or take off after sitting for a few minutes. Even then, it should be light gray in color.

However, if your engine has a blown gasket, the exhaust smoke will be thick and white. This color occurs because coolant is leaking into and burning off inside of the engine's combustion chamber.

2.  Motor Oil Has the Color and Consistency of a Milkshake

When the head gasket is blown, the resulting leak in the coolant lines does not only cause thick, white exhaust smoke. The coolant will also contaminate the motor oil, which can be detected by a look at its color and consistency on the dipstick.

If your oil appears whitish-brown and frothy, much like the consistency of a milkshake, it has been contaminated by coolant. This contamination makes it impossible for the oil to fully lubricate the gears and other parts of the engine.

If you continue to drive your vehicle, the oil's inability to do its job will eventually lead to the seizure of the gears as well as overheating of the engine.

If your car is exhibiting the above signs, the culprit is most likely a blown head gasket. If this is the case, do not ignore the problem and continue driving your car since doing so will lead to a seized up engine and either a costly rebuild or total replacement. As soon as you notice an issue, take your car to an engine repair service so that they can inspect the damage and discuss any recommended options.

To learn more about engine repair, contact a company in your area like AutoMedics.


Share