Head gaskets are important seals in the engine block of your car. They keep all of your coolant, oil, and intake air from escaping through the cracks and gaps between moving parts. If you've ever seen white smoke coming out of the tailpipe when you start up your car, it's likely because there's coolant leaking into the combustion chamber from a head gasket that's failed.
The head gasket is the most vital component in keeping an engine running smoothly, so if it leaks or fails altogether, you'll have to replace it before driving yourself anywhere. The process of replacing one can cost hundreds of dollars or more depending on how old your vehicle is and how many other problems it has (in addition to any special tools you may need).
The head gasket is a seal that prevents fluid and gases from leaking between the block and the head. The job of both parts is to keep the cylinders sealed off from one another, meaning that either both parts need to be intact or neither of them can. When a leak occurs in the gasket, oil may seep into a cylinder, causing damage to other internal parts.
The most common reason for a head gasket leak is because of overheating. If you drive around for long periods of time or don't check your engine temperature often enough, it's possible for it to get too hot. This will cause pressure to build up within your engine, eventually leading to catastrophic failure. You'll know if you're driving too much if you have trouble starting your car or seeing steam coming from under the hood when you turn it off. In addition, antifreeze may start spilling out of your air conditioning vents as well.
If you're seeing white smoke whenever you start up your car or having other problems with your engine's temperature, oil levels, or compression—especially in combination with frequent stalling—you should take it to a mechanic as soon as possible.
If you need head gasket repair, we invite you to bring your vehicle into our auto repair shop today!