Car Care: Blown a gasket? Here's how to tell

Got billowing clouds of white smoke coming out of your car's tailpipe? Ever noticed a large puddle of black oil or red transmission fluid under your vehicle? Seeing bubbles in the coolant when you remove the radiator cap?

As a motorist, you should be able to identify signs of trouble in your vehicle, such as a blown head gasket.

Head gaskets have a tough assignment. They have to seal the combustion chambers from loss of very high temperature exhaust gases while preventing leakage of coolant and oil into the combustion chambers. Head gaskets must provide a leak-free seal for the life of the engine and do it from the time the engine is started for the first time.

Gaskets should maintain their integrity and strength to serve their purpose, but constant, intense pressure over time may cause a head gasket to crack or become warped. The following are symptoms of a damaged or blown head gasket:

1. White exhaust smoke -- If you notice white smoke coming from your exhaust, then coolant may be leaking into the cylinders through a breach in the head gasket, causing the coolant to form this steam.

2. Blue exhaust smoke and white substance in the oil -- If blue smoke comes out of your exhaust, this may indicate oil leaking into and being burned inside the cylinders. Upon checking via the dipstick you might find a white, paste-like substance mixed with the engine oil -- a sure sign of head gasket damage.

3. Overheating -- Coolant leaking into the cylinders will cause it to run out and cause the engine to overheat. A good way to check for coolant leak is by removing the radiator or overflow cap and checking for air bubbles when the engine is revved.

4. Rough-running engine, loss of power, and visual oil and coolant leaks -- If left unchecked, a blown head gasket may cause the engine to run roughly, lose power and become less efficient. When oil or coolant is seeping through where the cylinder head and engine block are joined, or where the spark plugs are, then it may mean that the head gasket is damaged.

Damaged or blown head gaskets must be replaced immediately to prevent serious damage to your car's engine.

If you suspect a defective head gasket, take your car in for repair immediately.

Because of the different fluids involved -- oil, engine coolant, fuel, air, hydraulic brake, automatic transmission, air conditioner refrigerant -- it's critical the correct gasket be used whenever a component is repaired or replaced. For more on gaskets and replacement, visit www.cometic.com.