What Are the Symptoms of a Leaking Head Gasket?

There are many reasons a head gasket can start to leak, and when it does it needs to be fully replaced immediately. If the head gasket is allowed to continue leaking it can cause irreversible damage to the engine, effectively requiring an entire replacement. This is why it's important to understand what the symptoms of a leaking head gasket are.

Check the Dipstick

If a frothy or milky color is found on the dipstick it is a sign that coolant is leaking into your oil pan, which could mean head gasket trouble.

Spark Plugs

A leaking head gasket can mean liquid might be leaking into a particular cylinder causing one spark plug to look much cleaner than the others.

Exhaust

A white smoke coming from the exhaust on a fully warmed up vehicle is a sign of trouble and could be the result of a leaking head gasket.

Sweet Smells

If you smell something sweet coming from the tailpipe of the car, there might be a coolant leak which is a result of a broken head gasket.

Coolant Loss

If there is an unexplained amount of coolant being lost it's a good idea to take the vehicle in to have the head gasket looked at.