Your car’s head gasket plays a vital role in the engine’s combustion process.
Helping to maintain engine power and prevent it from overheating, it is essential that you act quickly if you suspect the head gasket is failing.
Read on and find out what a head gasket is, what it does, and what happens when it goes.
Page Contents
What Is a Head Gasket?
A head gasket is a seal between the engine block and cylinder head, which prevents fluids such as the coolant and oil from coming into contact with one another.
By sealing the internal combustion chamber, the head gasket helps the fuel ignition process to run smoothly.
A blown head gasket means costly repairs, poor engine performance, and the possibility of the car overheating.
Be sure to take care of your head gasket and book a replacement when needed.
Glossary
Internal Combustion Chamber – Fuel and air are burned off inside the combustion chamber.
The chamber is made up of the cylinder head, cylinder walls and piston.
Cylinder Head – The cylinder head creates the combustion chamber by sealing the top of the cylinder.
It contains passageways which allow coolant and oil to travel safely.
Engine Block – The engine block houses the main parts of the internal engine.
This includes the crankshaft, cylinders and water cooling system.
The engine block is made from a strong metal, which gives it the ability to transfer heat from the combustion process over to the main cooling system.
What Does the Head Gasket Do?
As your car’s engine is split into two parts – the engine block and the cylinder head – your head gasket has a vital role to play in protecting the components that reside within these halves.
The cylinder head contains the valves and spark plugs.
The engine block contains pistons and connecting rods and is sealed to the cylinder head by the head gasket.
What Is Head Gasket Sealer?
Head gasket sealer is a substance which you can pour into your radiator to seal small cracks in the head gasket.
This should only be seen as a temporary solution to the problem.
You must have head gasket issues looked at by a professional mechanic to properly fix the issue.
How Does a Head Gasket Become Faulty?
Head gasket failures tend to be caused by an overheating engine.
Other reasons for a faulty head gasket include:
- A clogged radiator
- A coolant leak
- A faulty fan
- A blown head gasket
When the head gasket goes, pressure in the combustion chamber will be lost, and you will feel a significant loss of power.
If your head gasket blows, this could cause coolant to leak, meaning your engine is much more likely to overheat.
