There is no good news in having a head gasket blow out. You should get your head gasket checked ASAP if you suspect it is leaking. Your head gasket might be leaking if you can smell a sweet white cloud.
What causes a head gasket to fail?
This problem occurs more often on motors with iron cylinder blocks and aluminum heads, where the head gasket cannot seal the newly expanded gap. There are also motors with poor bolt clamping forces or bodies that warp easily, which have a reputation for failure. Failure of a head gasket can lead to all kinds of problems, including:
Power loss
The loss of compressed air/fuel from a cylinder due to a failed head gasket can result in decreased compression, rough running, and diminished power. An exhaust leak-like sound is typical of this kind of failure.
Oil contamination
Due to a failed head gasket, the underside of the oil filler cap or the dipstick can accumulate with a milky sludge, sometimes called a milkshake. By contaminating the oil with coolant, the oil becomes contaminated. The fact that you have to remove your engine is an indication that you have a head gasket failure, albeit not conclusive.
Thus, the engine's bearings will be damaged quickly, requiring a complete oil flush to remove the contaminated fluid and an engine disassembly to ensure the components are not damaged.
Excessive Heat
Radiator clogs, leaky coolant, and faulty fans can lead to engine overheating. Blown head gaskets can also lead to engine overheating, in addition to leading to head gasket failure. Leaving hot exhaust gases in the cooling system can cause the engine to overheat. Additionally, alloy cylinder heads can warp and potentially damage the catalytic converter, increasing the cost of repair.
White Smoke
Clouds of white, sweet-smelling smoke usually accompany a blown head gasket. An unexpected leak in a radiator hose or a non-staying dipstick could indicate this.
Want to get rid of the candy smell?
A sweet-smelling smoke from your car only breeds danger. If you need to have your head gaskets repaired, we invite you to bring your vehicle into our auto repair shop today!