- Engine overheating: A blown head gasket can cause the engine to overheat, as coolant is leaking from the cylinder head into the combustion chamber.
- White smoke from the exhaust: This could indicate that coolant is leaking into the combustion chamber, which is burned and turned into steam.
- Bubbles in the coolant reservoir: If there are bubbles in the coolant reservoir, this could be a sign that combustion gases are leaking into the cooling system.
- Loss of coolant: If the coolant level in the reservoir is dropping and there are no visible leaks, it's possible that the coolant is leaking into the combustion chamber.
- Rough engine idle: A blown head gasket can cause the engine to run rough, as the air-fuel mixture is not being compressed properly.
- Engine misfires: A blown head gasket can also cause engine misfires, as the spark plugs are not firing correctly due to the loss of compression.
- Oil in the coolant: If there is oil in the coolant reservoir, this is a definite sign that the head gasket is blown, as oil and coolant should never mix.
- Engine knocking: In some cases, a blown head gasket can also cause the engine to knock, as the piston rings are not properly sealing the combustion chamber.
If you suspect that your head gasket is blown, it's important to have the car inspected by a qualified mechanic as soon as possible, as a blown head gasket can cause serious damage to the engine.
