St Petersburg Auto Repair

What Is a Head Gasket? The head gasket is one of the most important gaskets in your engine. It is designed to seal the firing pressure of the cylinders and to prevent the engine oil and the coolant from leaking into and out of the cylinders. The head gasket is built to withstand the pressure and stress caused by two surfaces that expand, shrink, warp and rub, while sealing in cylinder pressure, engine oil and coolant that run through the casting ports. What Causes Head Gasket Failure? The engine operates at extreme temperatures. If the heat exceeds the normal engine operating temperatures, the engine overheats and may cause a blown head gasket. The excess heat is due to the engine block and cylinder head expanding excessively, leading to failure in the head gasket. Also, detonation can cause head gasket failure as it damages the fire rings or armors and allows the cylinder pressure to leak past the armors. Blown Head Gasket Symptoms Coolant in the Cylinders A blown head gasket al ... read more