head gasket failure
Coolant meets combustion chamber
Head gasket failure is when the seal between an engine's cylinder head and engine block breaks down, allowing coolant and oil to leak or mix.
Signs include white exhaust smoke, overheating, milky residue in the oil, and coolant loss without visible leaks.
The repair is expensive because it requires extensive engine disassembly: The mechanic said it's head gasket failure—might be cheaper to replace the whole engine.
- coolantTemperature-regulating fluid
- coolant leakFluid escaping cooling system
- overheatingBecoming dangerously warm
- blownMoved by air
- warpedBent out of true
steam · white smoke · antifreeze · leak · cylinder · compression · milky · oil · radiator · engine · engine block · smoke · repair · mechanic · tow · tow truck · breakdown · expensive
head gasket failurequick fix
Hasty temporary solution
oil change · spark plug change · easy maintenance · routine service · tire rotation
head gasket failureclean bill of health
Official statement of soundness
head, heads, headed, heading, header, headless, headfirst, gasket, gaskets