How to Start the Motor and Check for Leaks When Replacing a Blown Head Gasket

The head gasket seals the car's cylinders to stop any of the engine's oils or coolants to get into the cylinders. You don't want to drive the vehicle with a blown head gasket because that will further damage the engine. Once you've serviced the engine and done the valve cover replacement, you want to make certain that the head gasket isn't leaking, and that it has been installed correctly.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Start the engine to look for any leaks. First look around the main surfaces of the gasket. Inspect every area of the engine that you can get to for any seepage.

2. Leave the engine on for approximately half a minute. That lets the oil pump up from the oil pan to get to all the places within the engine that the oil is supposed to go so that you can check for leaks. That's the superficial way to look for leaks.

3. This next method takes a little while longer. Buy an oil dye from any local automobile parts store. It comes in a small bottle because you only need a little bit. Perform an oil change and add that oil dye in with your own oil.

4. Drive the vehicle around for a day or about 100 miles to let that dye run through all the systems of your car. When you open the hood, look for any leaks that you missed with the previous spot check. There will be bright green dye any place that there are leaks.

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