What Should You Know About Car Head Gasket Failures?

Despite generally manufacturing durable and reliable vehicles, the specter of head gasket failures has nevertheless followed cars around for decades. Unlike many common automotive failures, blown head gaskets are a severe problem that will likely ruin an engine. While head gasket issues are less common in new cars, many affected models are still on the road today.

If you drive an older car, it's critical to understand why these failures happen, what you can do to delay them, and what you should do if the worst occurs. This article will help provide a quick overview of this problem and explain why you'll probably need to consider an engine rebuild or replacement if it strikes your car.

What Does a Head Gasket Do?

You can broadly divide most engines into "top" and "bottom" halves, also known as heads and blocks. However, this description is far more than just a broad outline. The engine block and head are two physically distinct units that need to connect to one another. Maintaining a tight seal for oil, coolant, and compression is crucial, so manufacturers place a gasket between the head and block.

Despite being a relatively unassuming component, the head gasket is one of the most important parts of any car. Depending on the particular location of the failure, a faulty head gasket may allow oil and coolant to mix or even result in lost compression on one or more cylinders. A faulty head gasket will generally cause a vehicle to run poorly, overheat, and, eventually, stop running altogether.

Head gaskets typically fail after the engine overheats. The high temperatures cause the metal in the head or block to expand, warping and potentially breaking the gasket. Unfortunately, some engines used poor-quality gaskets, causing this critical part to break down without a prior overheating event.

What Should You Do If Your Car's Head Gasket Fails?

A failed head gasket can result in significant internal engine damage, and replacing a head gasket requires disassembling large portions of your engine for a replacement. Unlike simple repairs such as failed alternators or water pumps, head gasket fixes always involve rebuilding your engine and looking for additional internal damage.

Replacing the engine is also an option, and the best choice for your car will depend on your needs and budget. A quality rebuild will restore your car's reliability and performance, but it's a good idea to use a higher-quality head gasket during the rebuild. Some rebuilt or remanufactured replacement engines may already come with these head gaskets installed.

Once you rebuild or replace your engine, it's important to do everything you can to ensure the new head gasket lasts. In most cases, this means changing your oil regularly, avoiding situations that can cause overheating, flushing coolant as needed, and maintaining your battery. By taking these steps, your new or rebuilt engine is sure to last for many thousands of miles.

For more information or if you need services like a Subaru auto engine rebuild, contact a local auto shop.