What causes a cylinder head gasket to fail?
Cylinder head gaskets can fail for a variety of reasons; however, none is more serious than overheating. Engine overheating, such as that caused by a significant coolant leak, can cause sudden head gasket problems.
Overheating destroys head gaskets, primarily due to the sudden expansion of metal along the engine’s critical surfaces. The more severe the overheating, the greater the chance of head gasket failure.
Significant expansion of an engine’s cylinder head or block deck can cause cracks between the two sides, ultimately compromising the head gasket seal. Even if a single overheating event does not cause an immediate head gasket failure, the integrity of that gasket is permanently weakened.
An explosion or sudden ignition of the fuel/air mixture outside of the flame front can also cause eventual head gasket failure, as the explosion can damage the cylinder head gasket’s ignition ring, ultimately leading to compression loss. Can I drive with a blown head gasket?
In most cases, you can drive a vehicle with a blown head gasket, but this is not recommended. The seal between the engine block and the cylinder head is very important to the performance of the engine. Therefore, deterioration of this seal will eventually lead to a series of driving troubles.
In most cases, a leaking head gasket will eventually cause further overheating problems. Many head gasket leaks, whether external or into a specific cylinder, cause a loss of coolant. Over time, this loss of coolant significantly reduces the cooling system’s ability to regulate engine temperature.
In some cases, a cylinder head gasket leak can cause the coolant to mix with the engine’s lubricating oil. In this case, oil dilution is inevitable. This loss of oil viscosity can quickly have a devastating effect on the engine’s critical bearings. So, if you have a leaking head gasket, you may eventually need a complete engine overhaul.
Cost to Repair a Missing Head Gasket
Replacing a cylinder head gasket is never cheap. However, the exact cost of such a repair can vary greatly depending on the model of your vehicle.
These cost differences are due to the price differences between specific gaskets and the labor required to replace a head gasket on a particular engine.
On average, you can expect to pay between $1,200 and $2,000 for a complete head gasket replacement. The lower end of this price range corresponds to an in-line engine replacement, while the higher end of the price range corresponds to most high-end V-configuration engines.
Preventing Cylinder Head Gasket Damage
The best way to prevent head gasket leaks is to constantly monitor your vehicle’s cooling system. This includes checking the condition of all coolant and heater hoses as well as regularly checking your engine’s water pump seals and thermostat housing for fluid loss.
If a problem with the integrity of the cooling system is identified, repairs should be made as soon as possible. Delaying such repairs can quickly lead to overheating problems, which in turn can increase the risk of your engine’s head gasket failing. Blown cylinder head gasket vs. cracked cylinder head
Although rare, an engine’s cylinder head can crack, causing symptoms similar to those of a broken head gasket. However, repairing a cracked cylinder head requires more than simply replacing the cylinder head gasket. These repairs include replacing the engine’s cylinder head gasket.
It can be very difficult to tell the difference between a cracked cylinder head and a blown head gasket. When something goes wrong, both combustion gases and liquids can end up in places where they don’t belong. However, many issues related to cylinder head cracks seem to resolve themselves as the engine reaches operating temperature and the cracks themselves expand.
