Deep in the engine of most vehicles is a simple looking gasket that has an extremely important job. This gasket is known as the head gasket because it is situated between the cylinder head and the primary engine block. If this gasket fails, it changes the rate of combustion and the flow of coolant through the engine, which means the engine can have severe issues with functioning as intended.

Even though a blown head gasket is a fairly common woe for many vehicle types, especially those that are an older model, many drivers have no idea how to pinpoint this as the problem. Driving or even starting a car with a blown head gasket can lead to complete engine failure. To make sure you catch the problem from the start, it is best to get familiar with some of the more common signs.  

The exhaust pipe will emit white smoke instead of the usual invisible fumes. 

Smoke coming from the exhaust pipe is an easy thing to miss in a lot of cases, because most drivers will not pay much attention to this when they are sitting in the driver's seat. However, the emissions from the exhaust should be mostly invisible unless temperatures are at play and steam occurs. If you see white smoke spilling out from the exhaust, it could be a sign of a blown head gasket. This happens because the engine combustion has changed, often allowing more fuel into the emissions and causing smoke. 

The engine continually overheats when there is no reason for it to do so. 

An overheating engine is easy to spot as long as your temperature gauge is functional. And, an overheating engine is a telltale sign that the gasket is damaged between the cylinder head and engine block. When this gasket is damaged, it prevents the coolant functions of the engine that are necessary to keep the engine cool as it operates. 

There is a white milky appearance to the engine oil when checked. 

Your engine oil is almost like the blood of the engine. In some cases, just a quick check of the oil's color and consistency can tell you what's wrong with your car. This is especially true if the car has a blown head gasket. The engine oil or even the cap on the engine oil reservoir can have a milky appearance or a milky residue if the head gasket is damaged because this damage allows moisture from the radiator to leak into the oil. 

For more information, contact companies like G P Automotive.