Common Failure Causes
A blown head gasket in a vehicle is something that needs to be fixed promptly. If left untouched, you run the risk of seriously damaging your engine. Knowing what causes gasket failure or gasket problems is the key to gasket failure prevention, so let’s start by looking at some likely culprits.
Overheating
It’s a catch twenty-two situation — an overheated engine can cause the gasket to blow. A blown gasket can cause the engine to overheat.
This is often a result of the exhaust gases leaking into the cooling system of the vehicle. It can be as a result of a coolant leak as well. Either way, the outlook is not good. If it’s allowed to continue, the cylinder head could warp, or the catalytic converter can be damaged.
If either of these two events occurs, you’re looking at an expensive fix for this problem.
Loss of Power
If the seal fails, the cylinder compression will be reduced. This is also one of the most telling symptoms of gasket failure— a sudden loss of pressure and an engine that is not running as smoothly as it should.
Oil Contamination
Some gasket symptoms are easy to notice. Contamination is one of them. When this happens, you’re likely to see an opaque residue inside the oil filler cap or sticking to the dipstick. There are other reasons that this could happen, but it’s most likely that the gasket is not sealing correctly.
The problem here is that the contaminated oil can destroy the bearings in the engine. It must be completely flushed out once you’ve implemented your gasket solutions. The oil filter will also need to be switched out.
Smoking
An oil leak can also cause the car to smoke as a result of the oil burning off on the cylinders. It’s something that needs to be handled as soon as possible. If not, your engine will be subjected to excessive wear and tear.
External Leaks
Another sign of a gasket problem is when you are going through too much oil or coolants. If there is a minor leak, the problem is likely not too serious, and the car will still run. However, if the oil or coolant is allowed to drop too low, you risk damaging the engine.
How to prevent gasket them?
The best gasket solution is to make sure that you keep your car in good repair and use high-quality replacement parts when necessary. Specialist Sealing Products has a range of top-quality products that are built to last and that will perform exceptionally.
The main problem with replacing the head gasket is that the engine basically needs to be disassembled. This is why the labour for this repair ends up being so expensive.
Do focus on ensuring that the cooling system remains in good condition. Start by checking the levels of coolant regularly and top them up if necessary. Also, check the system regularly for leaks and, if you find any, have them fixed as soon as possible.
Aside from that, make sure to get your car properly serviced at least once a year. You’ll need to do a full oil change, replace the oil filters and air filters to keep the vehicle running as cleanly as possible.
Read the next article: What is controlled Density of Spiral Wound Gasket
