A blown head gasket is damaging to the engine because of what happens after the head gasket cracks. In addition, it takes extensive repair work to replace the head gasket. We are going to discuss below the things that happen when excess heat blows out the head gasket. Once the head gasket cracks, the seal between the engine and the combustion chamber is broken.
It Dilutes the Oil
When this seal gets broken, the motor oil and coolant will start to leak into the combustion chamber and mix. This turns the motor oil from brown and translucent to milky-white and cloudy. In fact, you may think that your motor oil looks like a latte. Unfortunately, when the oil gets diluted, it is no longer able to protect the engine or draw heat away from it. Consequently, the first cause of engine damage is diluted motor oil circulating through it.
It Creates a Coolant Leak
As we just mentioned, the coolant also leaks into the cylinder block. Unfortunately, this means you will never have enough coolant circulating through the engine to keep the temperature below 220 degrees Fahrenheit. Even if you add coolant, it’s going to leak through the crack in the head gasket and enter the combustion chamber. Specifically, the coolant drains into the cylinders where it is burned along with the fuel, air, and oil. This coolant loss overheats the engine.
The Engine Overheats
The engine will overheat just because the coolant level is low. The head gasket is designed to seal off the combustion chamber so the engine is not subjected to the heat inside of the chamber. Unfortunately, the heat will seep through the crack in the head gasket and increase the engine’s temperature even more. This can cause additional engine damage such as a cracked cylinder block or exhaust manifold. It can also cause the radiator to explode because the coolant will start to boil.
It Creates Excess Exhaust
As if all of that were not bad enough, your engine will also start to produce excess exhaust that must flow through the exhaust system. As we mentioned above, the cylinders are contaminated with the motor oil and coolant when the head gasket cracks. Consequently, as these fluids burn, they increase the exhaust your vehicle releases. In the case of motor oil, the exhaust will look blue. In the case of coolant, the exhaust will be white.
In light of all of the above, it is an excellent idea to have your automobile towed to our shop if you suspect that you have a cracked head gasket. Driving the vehicle could damage the engine beyond repair.
