He’s sitting in traffic, minding his own business, when he suddenly sees it: a cloud of white smoke billowing from under the hood of his car.
Does this mean you have a blown head gasket on your hands?
Or how about this scenario: You open the hood of your car to take a look at your engine and notice that the head gasket appears to be slightly warped. Does this mean you have a blown head gasket? Or should normal wear and tear on a car be considered, especially if it’s an older model?
You do not need a mechanic to properly diagnose this problem; In fact, if you notice any of these symptoms while driving, there’s a good chance your engine has blown:
early symptoms
To avoid major engine problems, and save yourself a surprise bill from your mechanic! – then watch out for some key preliminary symptoms, which arise when the head gasket is about to fail. Occasionally your car will overheat, white smoke will appear from the exhaust and there will be a slight noise sensation when your car is idling.
Blown engine
If you haven’t spotted these early symptoms, be on the lookout for the important signs: your car is overheating, your air conditioner is blowing hot air or your heater is blowing cold air, there are clouds of smoke billowing from under your hood, your car will jerk it is idling, or it won’t start at all. In any case, take a look under your hood at your engine. A mechanic can easily fix a warped or slightly bent surface for a nominal fee; however, a crack in the block surface will indicate that the entire head gasket needs to be replaced.
Another major symptom of a burned out engine is oil running into the coolant. If your vehicle has been running, it is very important to let it cool down before removing the radiator cap. This can take 20 to 30 minutes. Then use a rag to remove the cap. If your liquid looks like chocolate milk, then you definitely have a burnt head gasket.
If you repair an engine, be sure to take your vehicle to an experienced mechanic with an excellent reputation and customer service.