The head gasket is a component of your car’s engine which creates a seal between the engine block and the cylinder head. An engine’s head gasket functions to keep gasses sealed inside the cylinders and prevent engine oil leaks. Years of wear and tear or periods of extreme temperature can result in your head gasket leaking oil, coolant or both.

There are many signs that your car has a head gasket leak, including:

• Your automobile begins consuming oil at a faster rate.
• Your engine begins to overheat more easily when driving.
• The exhaust smoke from your car begins to have a blue tint.
• You discover coolant mixed with your oil during an oil change.
• You find oil on your engine’s spark plugs.
• The performance of your engine becomes rougher with no other clear cause.

On average, a head gasket replacement will cost you at least $1,500 and may cost $3,000 or more depending on the make or model of your car.  You might be tempted to put off replacing your head gasket but if the leak is not addressed promptly, the issue can worsen and result in total head gasket failure. When this happens, your engine can sustain significant damage, requiring repairs that are much more costly than a head gasket replacement would have been.

Do you have a leaking head gasket that needs to be fixed? Contact a trusted auto repair shop in the West Minneapolis metro to schedule a repair appointment.