4 Red Flags of a Cracked or Blown Head Gasket
Catch the Warning Signs of a Bad Head Gasket Before It’s Too Late!
“You have a blown head gasket.” It won’t be a surprise if car owners who hear these dreaded words from their trusted technicians would immediately start seeing huge dollar signs in their minds. It’s only natural that they would worry about labor-intensive and costly repairs while feeling guilty about not catching the problem quickly enough before it became too late.
The head gasket of a motor vehicle seals the engine cylinder’s firing pressure. While the head gasket seals in cylinder pressure, coolant, and engine oil running through casting ports, it also has to withstand the stresses of its two surfaces that are expanding, shrinking, warping, and rubbing. If you have a bad head gasket, the coolant and engine oil will leak into the cylinders and to the outside, causing more serious car problems.
Watch Out for the Warning Signs of a Blown Head Gasket!
Recognizing the warning signs of a head gasket issue can be challenging. However, identifying and troubleshooting these common symptoms will enable you to keep your vehicle running longer and better. To help you out, Kids Car Donations has compiled a list of the warning signs of potential head gasket issues.
- White smoke from the tailpipe
Since the head gasket keeps the coolant flowing through the engine’s coolant channels, a blown head gasket won’t stop the coolant from seeping into the combustion chambers next to the coolant channels. Consequently, liquid burns along with gasoline and produces billowing clouds of sweet-smelling white smoke from the tailpipe.
- Loss of engine power
The engine cylinder’s compression is reduced when a failed head gasket lets compressed air and fuel escape. The engine runs rough and loses power significantly as a result of this loss of compression. The sound of an exhaust leak usually accompanies this type of failure.
- External leaks
An oil or coolant leak can occur if the cylinder head gasket has blown between the passage for water and oil and the outside of the engine. While not quite as serious as a blown head gasket, this is still extremely serious.
While an external leak may not seem a big deal, it can cause serious engine issues if the coolant level drops too far. In addition, the oil leaking from the engine could also produce acrid smoke and possibly start a fire if it gets on the hot exhaust.
- Oil contamination
The presence of milky sludge on the underside of the oil filler cap or the dipstick may be a sign of a head gasket failure. This happens when the coolant gets into the oil and vice versa. To find out if this is a head gasket issue, you need to take your engine apart to figure out what’s wrong.
This will result in the antifreeze contaminating the oil, so any driving will ruin the bearings. To fix it, you’ll need at least an oil flush and a replacement oil filter. Sometimes the engine bottom end needs to be completely disassembled to inspect the bearings and clean any contaminated oil.
Driving with a blown head gasket will cause permanent damage to your engine. If you notice any of the symptoms listed above while on the road, pull over, stop, and have your car towed to the repair shop.
Is Your Beater Giving You Endless Headaches? Here’s What You Can Do
If a blown head gasket is just one of the many causes of headaches that your car is giving you, perhaps it’s due for retirement. Consider donating it to us at Kids Car Donations. This will free you from your worries while doing an act of charity that will benefit the indigent youngsters in your local community who are grappling with serious health challenges.
We’ll auction off your donated vehicle after fixing it. We’ll then use the proceeds to support the pediatric health programs of our charity partners. These IRS-certified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations use the funding we give them to provide their young beneficiaries with free comprehensive and quality medical assistance, including easy access to vital health services, relief of pain and trauma, and emotional support.
As a donor, you get to receive your share of outstanding rewards, including the privilege to claim the maximum tax deduction in the next tax season. You will also get a free professional towing service from us wherever you are in the United States.
Even more precious than these material rewards, you’ll find awesome satisfaction in knowing that your car donation will be used to improve or restore the health of ailing children and teens and save the lives of those who are seriously ill.
We accept almost all types of vehicles whatever their ages or conditions. We don’t mind taking vehicles that have missing or defective parts as well as those that have scratches and dents.
To know more about our vehicle donation program, including our quick and convenient donation process, feel free to visit our FAQs page. If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to call us anytime through our toll-free hotline at 866-634-8395 or write to us here.
Extend a Helping Hand to Those Ailing Kids Today!
Your car donation will go a long way in helping the ailing kids in your community overcome their afflictions. Call Kids Car Donations at 866-634-8395 or fill out our secure online donation form now!