BY ERICH REICHERT / ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED APRIL 5, 2018 / NATIONAL AUTOMOTIVE PARTS ASSOCIATION / Regardless of the type of vehicle you own, a blown head gasket…{"id":10531,"date":"2018-07-02T10:34:35","date_gmt":"2018-07-02T17:34:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/?p=10531"},"modified":"2018-07-02T10:34:35","modified_gmt":"2018-07-02T17:34:35","slug":"you-have-a-blown-head-gasket-now-what","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/2018\/07\/02\/you-have-a-blown-head-gasket-now-what\/","title":{"rendered":"You Have a Blown Head Gasket: Now What?"},"content":{"rendered":"

BY ERICH REICHERT \/ ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED APRIL 5, 2018 \/<\/span>\u00a0NATIONAL AUTOMOTIVE PARTS ASSOCIATION<\/a>\u00a0\/<\/span><\/h5>\n
Regardless of the type of vehicle you own, a blown head gasket ranks toward the top of the list of most-involved car repairs. Because of its complexity, you have to consider whether it\u2019s worth doing or not.<\/span><\/p>\n
We\u2019ve already examined the\u00a0<\/span>signs of a blown head gasket<\/a><\/strong>, so let\u2019s take a closer look at what you should do when it comes time to perform this repair. Here\u2019s a rundown of the options you have when your engine\u2019s head gasket fails.<\/span><\/p>\n
What It Is<\/strong><\/h5>\n
The head gasket is the seal between the cylinder head, where the engine\u2019s valve train and a lot of other things are housed, and the lower block, where you\u2019ll find the crank, cylinders and other moving parts attached. Because the head gasket seals the meeting point of the engine halves, you\u2019ll find it located about halfway down the engine. This means that, in order to replace it, you have to remove half of the engine \u2014 the more critical half at that. Removing all of those parts, removing the intake, removing timing chains\/belts, detaching sensors, and other various components is labor intensive and usually better left to a professional.<\/span><\/p>\n
Replacing the Gasket<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\nThe most straightforward method of repair is to purchase a new cylinder head gasket and replace the failed one. As mentioned above, this requires not only the removal of the top half of the engine, but also a handful of specialized tools to remove and reinstall certain parts like timing chains or belts. When performing an entire head gasket replacement it never hurts to think about the nearby parts that can also be<\/span>\u00a0easily replaced<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0while the engine is disassembled. Items like the water pump and timing belt are prime examples.<\/span><\/p>\n
Stopping the Leak<\/strong><\/h5>\nIf the leak is minor, however, you may be able to use<\/span>\u00a0head gasket stop leak<\/a><\/strong>. Stop leak is basically a liquid sealing compound that you pour into your radiator. From there, the coolant carries it to the head gasket, where it fills in any leaks and, once hardened, reseals the gasket. This can be an option to stop a minor leak without the headache of either tearing your engine apart or having your mechanic do so.<\/span><\/p>\n
At first glance, a blown head gasket can seem like more than you can handle on your own. The standard method of repair involves taking most of the engine apart. If that isn\u2019t an option, a stop leak product may be your answer but keep in mind that a proper repair is always the best choice.<\/span><\/p>\n
Check out all the<\/span>\u00a0engine parts<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0available on<\/span>\u00a0NAPA Online<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0or trust one of their 16,000\u00a0<\/span>NAPA AutoCare locations<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0for routine maintenance and repairs. For more information on blown head gaskets, chat with a knowledgeable expert at your<\/span>\u00a0local NAPA AUTO PARTS store<\/a><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n
Photo Credit:<\/em>\u00a0<\/span>Blown head gasket, Morris Marina<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0by<\/span> John Shepherd<\/strong><\/a> (<\/span>CC BY 2.0<\/strong><\/a>)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n
This article has been reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder, National Automotive Parts Association. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Click here for more\u00a0<\/i><\/span>automotive tips and stories<\/a><\/i><\/strong>\u00a0from NAPA, or here for more information on<\/span>\u00a0the next Pomona Swap Meet & Classic Car Show<\/a><\/strong>.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n
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