To ensure the maximum life of a head gasket you must make sure that your engine and its cooling system is working well. If the engine is running cool and smooth, then the head gasket should last as long as the engine. In 2010, this means you may get 200,000 miles, or more than 10 years, out of that head gasket.
How much does it cost to replace a blown head gasket? The cost of head gasket repairs can run into the thousands, meaning it's often easier and cheaper to scrap the vehicle than it is to have it repaired. The average cost of head gasket repair is around $1,000 to $2,000, but this isn't because the parts are expensive.
The head will have to come off so the gasket can be replaced. That means your customer will need not only a new head gasket, but also intake and exhaust manifold gaskets, valve cover gaskets and possibly a timing cover gasket (OHC engine).
A blown head gasket can cause engine malfunction and significant loss of engine power [source: Bumbeck]. Check the engine coolant level. If the car is constantly losing coolant, it may be because your car's coolant is leaking from the cooling system into the oil pan. This happens when the head gasket is blown.
The head gasket is pressed between the engine block and cylinder head(s) to achieve a water- and air-tight seal. While the gaskets themselves are rather inexpensive, the several hours it takes to disassemble the engine to get to it makes a blown head gasket a costly repair.
Most blown head gaskets can be properly fixed without a mechanic. There is a point where the damage is too great and you will need the expertise of a professional to replace the gasket, but many leaks in a head gasket can be taken care of with one of our products.
Overheating is one of the less-obvious signs of a blown head gasket. Depending on the severity of the leak, you may see bubbles in the overflow tank, indicating that the cylinder is leaking into the cooling system. Discolored fluids are more subtle signs of a blown head gasket.
If the head gasket fails in such a way it allows the compressed air/fuel to escape, the compression of that cylinder is reduced. This loss of compression results in a rough running engine and a notable reduction in engine power. This sort of failure typically is accompanied by a sound like an exhaust leak.
Usually, a blown head gasket damages the engine because the engine overheats. This is because the damaged gasket can lead to coolant loss, either directly via the gasket damage or from the cylinder pressure increasing the pressure in the cooling system and coolant being pushed out of the overflow.
There are many stop-leak products that are only designed to be a temporary fix, but not ours. A blown head gasket fix can be as easy as dumping a bottle of sealant in your radiator, and you're good to go. The seal created from our product is as permanent as replacing the head gasket, but with less money and time.
If your car has a
blown engine, it'll be pretty easy for you
to tell.
These are just some of the symptoms that you'll see:
- Very low oil pressure.
- Loud sounds coming from under the hood.
- Engine overheating on a regular basis.
One way to tell if there might be a crack in your engine block is to check under the oil cap. Look for milky, white gunk, which signals oil might be mixing with the coolant. These two substances pass through separate sections of the block, so the only way they can mix is if there's a crack connecting them.
Yes, the can can still run with a blown head gasket. But it won't continue to do so for long. A blown head gasket can mean oil getting into the radiator and water getting into the engine. So, if your head gasket is blown, stop driving your engine and get it fixed ASAP.
If your head gasket leak has caused this problem you are almost always better off replacing the whole engine as a new head gasket will stop the leak but bearing damage has probably already been done.
The result can be disastrous as it causes burns which may further start a fire. The issues can be even more complex and can be intimidating if not properly addressed and treated. Hence, it is wise not to drive a car with a blown head gasket. I did, once, for about 10 miles maybe.
The average range is around $1,400 – $1,600. However, for more complicated engines, it can go as high as $2,500. Why is it so expensive? In order to replace the head gasket, your entire engine has to be disassembled.
