How to Know If You Have a Cracked Engine Head

Having a cracked engine head or blown head gasket can present major issues for a vehicle, resulting in costly repairs for the owner. Four cylinders, straight six and straight eight engines feature one cylinder head while V6 and V8 engines have two cylinder heads mounted on the engine block. Different scenarios can cause a cracked engine head or blown head gasket: not allowing a vehicle’s engine to warm properly before driving in cold climate conditions, driving the vehicle hard, or excessively revving the engine could potentially cause a cracked engine head.

Instructions

1. Check to see if there are extreme declines with regard to engine power. If your engine makes suspicious or obnoxious sounds along with smoke filtering out of the engine compartment along with fluids dripping from the top sides of the engine, you may have a cracked engine head. If your symptoms present a less dire situation, proceed to the next steps to diagnose your engine further.

2. Check the color of the exhaust while the engine is running. If the exhaust pipe emits thick white clouds and has a sweet odor, there may be a breach between the exhaust ports and coolant passages inside the engine head. This symptom can also be indicative of a blown head gasket.

3. Check your engine oil dipstick or remove the oil fill cap to examine the color and consistency or the oil inside your engine. Refer to your vehicle owner’s manual if you are not sure where these components are located. If the engine oil looks light in color and thick in consistency, engine coolant has entered the oiling system and a competent mechanic must check out the vehicle as soon as possible before more costly problems occur.

References

• Autos: Symptoms of a Blown Head Gasket
• The Washington Post: Click & Clack: Cracked in the Head Gasket