Head Gasket Damaged? - Engine Troubleshooting


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Head Gasket Damaged?

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Auto Repair Home>> Automotive Repair>> Engine Troubleshooting

mat0120
New User

Apr 18, 2006, 6:10 AM

Post #1 of 4 (2190 views)

Head Gasket Damaged?	Sign In

When driving along the other day the temperature guage light came on. I stopped immediately and topped up the water then drove to the nearest garage and was informed I had a leaking water pump. He said I would be ok to drive locally, however I haven't used the car since it happened, a week ago now.

My questions are:

1) What are the chances of my head gasket being damaged?

2) How can you tell if the head gasket is damaged ie performance, noise? etc?

Thanks in advance for any help given.

Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Apr 18, 2006, 7:10 AM

Post #2 of 4 (2188 views)

Re: Head Gasket Damaged?	Sign In

Maybe but only maybe. The coolant was low which will cause overheating. If the water pump was the source of the leak certainly take care of that.

You didn't say what kind of car. Some can go thru smoking overheats and some won't go thru one. You did the right thing shutting down early. May have saved you the car even if it needs a head gasket. T

radloffe
Novice

May 14, 2006, 10:32 PM

Post #3 of 4 (2155 views)

Re: Head Gasket Damaged?	Sign In

Make sure you top off the coolant reservior & radiator each morning before driving, until you can get it repaired. Keep a gallon of water in the trunk.
radloffe (Amateur mechanic for 20 years)

Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

May 15, 2006, 3:06 AM

Post #4 of 4 (2153 views)

Re: Head Gasket Damaged?	Sign In

Agree and upon re-read want to add that symptoms or performance may NOT be a clue but I didn't finish a question a couple back. A blown head gasket can put coolant in your exhaust, oil in the coolant, and more, just plain leak out the side and can warp a head beyond repair. I carry spare oil and premixed anti-freeze in my cars as you never know when it will be you!!

People will read this thread and hard overheats will cause head gasket problems more so in alloy head engines.

I won't own one. I'll just own all similar metal engines which in a career have had few problems on my own vehicles.

On older less valuable vehiles they can cost more to fix than the car is worth. T

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