The head gasket is a hugely important multi layered part that ensures your engine runs smoothly and safely. It not only needs to withstand incredibly high temperatures of nearly 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit as well intense pressure (up to 200 PSI!), but also keep coolant, oil & combustion chambers completely separate with almost 20 - 60 pounds per square inch! If the seal fails you’re in need or urgent repair so it pays off investing in such an essential component for peace of mind motoring.
If your head gasket is leaking, the resulting coolant entering the combustion chamber could be more than just bad news. When that piston comes back up to top dead center and tries to ignite what it thought was fuel, you may see some serious smoke rolling out of your tail pipe, not only can this cause rough running but if too much gets in there you might end up with a hydro-locked engine or worse yet an internal engine failure! At top dead center, the piston packs a powerful punch in releasing an impressive 200 lbs of pressure into your cooling system! The ferocious heat from inside the combustion chamber combines with increased air pressure to cause your coolant to boil over.
Beware of the dreaded 'chocolate milkshake' effect caused by a blown head gasket! This mix-up in your coolant and oil systems can lead to some major (and costly) repairs for your engine. Remember, it's not just about age or excessive miles as even when you care for them properly engines are vulnerable due to design flaws like Subaru’s infamous gaskets. Regular antifreeze maintenance could help reduce surprise blows from below as well, so keep an eye on that lifeblood!.
Is your car feeling a bit off? It could be signs of head gasket trouble. Keep an eye out for overheating, coolant loss, excessive white smoke from the exhaust and engine running rough especially when it's been sitting overnight (it will usually only last seconds). If you check or change your oil and spot fluid that looks like chocolate milk, there may very well be some broken seals in the system! White sweet smelling steam coming through tailpipes is another telltale sign which means it's time to get into gear before more damage is done and get it checked out.
