# Head gasket

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/head-gasket/31223>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [May 31, 2009, 12:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/head-gasket/31223 "2009-05-31T12:45:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![bedrock](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bedrock/32/868_2.png) [@bedrock](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bedrock)\
**Post date:** [May 31, 2009, 12:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/head-gasket/31223/1 "2009-05-31T12:45:50Z")

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what are the signs of a bad head gasket.

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**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\
**Post date:** [May 31, 2009, 2:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/head-gasket/31223/2 "2009-05-31T14:10:46Z")

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Coolant in the oil. Combustion gasses in the coolant. Loss of coolant with no visible leaks. Compression leak-down. Cooling system pressure loss. Steam from the exhaust pipe.

Any or all of the above.

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**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\
**Post date:** [May 31, 2009, 2:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/head-gasket/31223/3 "2009-05-31T14:22:57Z")

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Also, the presence of oil in the coolant.  
Look in the coolant overflow container, and if you see a line of very dark material, that is likely oil residue that has seeped into the cooling system.

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**Author:** ![Gary123](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c37758/32.png) [@Gary123](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Gary123)\
**Post date:** [May 31, 2009, 2:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/head-gasket/31223/4 "2009-05-31T14:24:14Z")

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Don’t forget over-heating.  
Look for bubbles coming up through the coolant in the radiator overflow canister while the engine is hot and running.

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**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\
**Post date:** [May 31, 2009, 2:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/head-gasket/31223/5 "2009-05-31T14:38:41Z")

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Big Dollar Sign$, Unless It’s DIY. Also, Possible Poor Running, Chugging, Etcetera.

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**Author:** ![mark9207](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71c47a/32.png) [@mark9207](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mark9207)\
**Post date:** [May 31, 2009, 10:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/head-gasket/31223/6 "2009-05-31T22:39:28Z")

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Another sign of a blown head gasket is very rapid pressurization of the cooling system, sometimes resulting in a blown radiator or hose. It often happens so fast the radiator cap can’t release the pressure fast enough.

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**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2009, 10:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/head-gasket/31223/7 "2009-06-05T22:51:47Z")

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What are YOUR symptoms?