The head gasket in your vehicle is one of the most important seals in your engine. So what happens when it starts leaking, and how do you get it fixed?
What Does the Head Gasket Do?
The head gasket is responsible for sealing in pressure and allowing combustion to take place within your engine. It also helps prevent fluids like engine oil or coolant from mixing with each other. But what are the potential causes of a leak?
What Causes a Head Gasket to Leak?
There are generally two main ways a head gasket can end up failing. One comes in the form of overheating, this causes the parts that the gasket is sealing to expand to the point that the gasket can no longer hold the pressure. Another cause is knocking, also known as detonation. When this occurs, the gasket can become overloaded and the seal breaks through. So what's a good way to tell if this is actually your problem?
How Do I Tell If My Head Gasket is Blown?
One of the first major signs of a blown head gasket is a loss of power. This is due to the fact that the pistons are unable to compress the fuel mixture properly and can't generate enough pressure. Another tell-tale sign of a blown head gasket is the mixing of oil and coolant. This can soon become a fatal flaw, as the oil will be diluted to the point where it can no longer properly lubricate the moving parts of your engine.
Can I Drive My Car With a Blown Head Gasket?
Sure, if you want to kill your engine. Otherwise, it's best to contact your nearest mechanic and make arrangements to have your vehicle towed. Driving with a blown head gasket can have absolutely catastrophic results, like overheating your engine and further damaging seals in your vehicle. The sooner you get the problem fixed, the better it'll be for both your vehicle and your wallet. And if your vehicle is in need of a head gasket repair, there's no better place to bring it than our auto repair shop.