What Is a Blown Head Gasket, How to Spot It, and How to Prevent It
Frankfort is the public art capital of Kentucky. But, it’s hard to map out a path through Frankfort to take in all the amazing public art our city has to offer when your car engine has a blown head gasket. Because a blown head gasket is a serious engine issue that happens when the gasket sealing the cylinder head and engine block fails. So in this blog the experts at Meineke in Frankfort explain how a blown head gasket happens, how to spot it, and – most importantly – how to prevent it.
What is a Head Gasket?
Your engine’s head gasket is a thin, critical component that ensures your vehicle’s coolant, oil, and combustion gases stay in their respective chambers. And when a head gasket is blown, it compromises this seal, leading to leaks and potential engine damage.
Signs of a Blown Head Gasket
- Overheating Engine: Coolant leaks caused by a blown gasket can result in the engine overheating.
- White Smoke from Exhaust: A sweet-smelling white smoke may indicate coolant leaking into the combustion chamber.
- Milky Oil: Check your dipstick for oil that looks frothy or milky—this signals coolant mixing with oil.
- Loss of Coolant with No Visible Leak: If your coolant level keeps dropping without an obvious leak, it could be leaking internally through the gasket.
- Poor Engine Performance: Misfires, reduced power, or difficulty starting are common when the head gasket fails.
How to Prevent a Blown Head Gasket
- Avoid Overheating: The most common cause of head gasket failure is overheating. So make sure your radiator, thermostat, and cooling system are in good working order.
- Monitor Coolant Levels: Check and top off coolant regularly to maintain proper engine temperature.
- Perform Regular Maintenance: Routine inspections can help identify small issues, like a minor coolant leak, before they escalate. So, don’t skip your routine scheduled maintenance.
- Avoid Aggressive Driving: Excessive engine stress, such as revving too high or towing heavy loads, can increase the risk of a blown gasket.
Blown Head Gasket? Why It’s Important to Act Quickly
A blown head gasket can lead to severe engine damage if left unaddressed, including a cracked engine block or warped cylinder head. So, if you notice the signs, it’s crucial to call Meineke in Frankford to get it inspected and repaired by their trusted ASE certified mechanics immediately.
If the Meineke in Frankfort is not a convenient auto repair center for you, Meineke has 15 car repair centers is Kentucky:
Meineke Car Care – Dixie Hwy.
5326 DIXIE HWY
Louisville, KY 40216
Call (844) 311-4548
Meineke Car Care – Preston Hwy.
7103 Preston Highway
Louisville, KY 40219
Call (844) 605-8457
Meineke Car Care – Bardstown Rd.
4170 Bardstown Road
Louisville, KY 40218
Call (844) 321-3541
Meineke Car Care – East. Broadway
701 East Broadway
Louisville, KY 40202
Call (855) 973-7820
Meineke Car Care – Outer Loop
6420 Outer Loop
Louisville, KY 40228
Call (844) 417-2336
Meineke Car Care – Shelbyville Rd.
11514 Shelbyville Road
Louisville, KY 40243
Call (844) 352-0216
Meineke Car Care – Dupont Rd.
1019 Dupont Road
Louisville, KY 40207
Call (502) 791-9526
Meineke Car Care – Plantside Dr.
10723 Plantside Drive
Louisville, KY 40299
Call (502) 536-9765
Meineke Car Care – So. Dixie Blvd.
2197 South Dixie Blvd.
Radcliff, KY 40160
Call (866) 548-1474
Meineke Car Care – Shelbyville Rd.
3949 Shelbyville Rd
St. Matthews, KY 40207
Call (888) 633-4889
Meineke Car Care – N. Dixie Hwy.
1400 N. Dixie Hwy.
Elizabethtown, KY 42701
Call (877) 439-7844
Meineke Car Care – Midland Trail
2000 Midland Trail
Shelbyville, KY 40065
Call (844) 681-4659
Meineke Car Care – W. Hwy. 146
3717 KY-146
Buckner, KY 40010
Call (844) 353-6212
Meineke Car Care – Peachtree Rd.
100 Peachtree Road
Nicholasville, KY 40356
Call (859) 687-8290
Meineke Car Care – Arrowhead Ct.
101 Arrowhead Court
Frankfort, KY 40601
Call (833) 723-5010
MEINEKE CAR CARE | LOCAL CAR CARE | LOCAL MECHANIC | FRANKFORT CAR CARE |FRANKFORT AUTO CARE | CAR CARE NEAR ME | OIL CHANGE NEAR ME | ASE CERTIFIED | EV CARE | EV BATTERY | CLUTCH |BRAKES NEAR ME | BRAKE FLUID | SERPENTINE BELT | TRUCK CARE | TRUCK MAINTENANCE | TIRE REPAIR | TIRES
#MEINEKECARCARE #LOCALCARCARE #FrankfortCarCare #FrankfortAutoCare #CarCareNearMe #MeinekeCares #Meineke #OilChangeNearMe #OilChange #ASEcertified #Diagnositics #EV #EVbattery #UsedCarRepair #Clutch #Brakes #BrakeFluid #SerpentineBelt #TruckMaintenance #TireRepair #Tires #ThankYouVeterans #MeinekeCares
