1. Coolant Leakage: A blown head gasket can cause coolant to leak into the combustion chamber. When this happens, the coolant is burned along with the fuel, leading to increased emissions of hydrocarbons (HC) and carbon monoxide (CO).
2. Oil Leakage: A blown head gasket can also allow engine oil to leak into the coolant or combustion chamber. This can result in increased emissions of hydrocarbons (HC) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
3. Incomplete Combustion: With a blown head gasket, there may be a loss of compression in the engine cylinders. This can lead to incomplete combustion of fuel, resulting in higher emissions of hydrocarbons (HC) and carbon monoxide (CO).
4. Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) Emissions: In some cases, a blown head gasket can cause changes in the combustion process that lead to increased formation of oxides of nitrogen (NOx). This may happen if the engine runs hotter due to the loss of coolant or if there are changes in the air-fuel mixture.
5. Particulate Matter (PM) Emissions: A blown head gasket may also contribute to increased emissions of particulate matter (PM), especially if engine oil leaks into the combustion chamber. Oil burned in the engine can generate small particles that contribute to PM emissions.
It's important to note that the specific impact on emissions depends on the severity of the blown head gasket and the vehicle's engine design. In most cases, a blown head gasket will cause a significant increase in emissions, and it's important to have the problem diagnosed and repaired as soon as possible to reduce the environmental impact.
