The head gasket is a part in your vehicle engine that sits between the engine block and cylinder head. It’s designed to serve as a barrier to prevent fluids in the engine from leaking back into the cylinders. This makes it an extremely important part of the combustion chamber, which is why knowing the signs you need head gasket repair in Corpus Christi, TX is so critical.

By being placed right between the hot and cold components of the engine, the head gasket will be exposed to a wide range of temperatures and a whole lot of environmental stress. Over time, those wide temperature changes can take a toll, which could result in deterioration of the gasket, and the potential development of leaks. In much more severe cases, the gasket could blow.

Signs you’re in need of head gasket repair

So, what exactly causes a blown head gasket, and how do you know if you’re dealing with one?

There are many issues that could cause a blown head gasket in Corpus Christi, TX, including problems that arise in the coolant system or issues in the combustion chamber. What can make matters difficult when it comes to diagnosing the problem is that some of the symptoms of head gasket failure could be easily confused with symptoms of other problems in the vehicle.

The most common symptoms of head gasket failure include:

  • Overheating: This can be caused by a restricted radiator. This problem may only get worse the more you drive, so it’s important to address the problem as soon as possible to prevent even worse issues within your vehicle.
  • Coolant leaking into the oil: This is a problem that’s commonly associated with blown head gaskets, but it could also be a result of a problem with intake gaskets, so you’ll need to have a professional carefully inspect the gaskets to correctly identify the problem.

People who ignore these symptoms commonly do so because they don’t want to spring for the expensive repairs associated with head gasket problems. However, this can only make matters worse. The longer you wait to address the problem, the more likely it is to lead to other problems in the vehicle. You might also suffer damage to the catalytic converter, erosion of lubrication in the engine, leaks into the engine oil (which can destroy the engine within a relatively short amount of time), overheating due to mixtures of combustion gases and coolant and other problems that could cause significant damage.

To inspect your vehicle for a blown head gasket, you should test for carbon dioxide. In such a test, you’ll examine the coolant for traces of combustion gases.

Lower the level of coolant inside the radiator and warm up the engine, then use the testing tool to extract fume samples. Mix those samples in a special testing solution. If it turns yellow, the coolant failed the test, meaning you likely have a head gasket problem.

To learn more about symptoms of head gasket problems and the steps you can take to identify and resolve them through head gasket repair in Corpus Christi, TX, reach out to the team at Coastal Diesel Injection today.