How do you check for a blown head gasket?

In: Parts and Repairs, Fuel and Engines, Head Gaskets and Valve Covers

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Answer

With engine at normal operating temperature--remove oil dipstick and drop a drop of hot oil on manifold or other hot part of engine--oil will smoke water will sizzle

If water and oil mixed --good indication head gasket is bad

If you are getting white smoke from tailpipe when engine is hot--good indication of bad head gasket

Also, remove radiator cap while engine is running BUT NOT HOT YET. A blown headgasket will leak cylinder pressure into the cooling system; it will show up as anything from small bubbles in the coolant to coolant spurting out of the radiator filler.

First answer by Baldfatguy. Last edit by Tbythelake. Contributor trust: 17 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 2 [recommend question]

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