Learn 3 Symptoms of Blown Head Gasket

How to diagnose a bad (blown) head gasket at home:
1. oil dipstick contaminated with coolant which gives appearance of chocolate milkshake
2. overflow tank mixing with oil which also gives appearance of chocolate milkshake
3. extreme puffs of WHITE smoke coming out of tail pipe and sweet smelling

❗️If you find this video helpful, I would appreciate a $uper Thanks that can be found below the video.

🎦 A Bad Radiator Cap VS Bad Head Gasket
🎦 Blown Head Gasket - Don’t Neglect Your Cooling System- Look What Happens
🎦 More Blown Head Gasket Symptoms - Part 2
🎦 Do Head Gasket Sealers Really Work? - Mechanic's Opinion

✅ Used Car Buyers Checklist - Private or Dealer - 5 Top Tips

💰Save money on your car/truck maintenance and repairs:
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Check your Engine, Coolant, Transmission, Power Steering Fluid, and Brake Fluids
Remove and replace Broken or Stripped Wheel Stud on most cars
Always make sure your lug nuts are TORQUED and not done with an impact gun

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⚠️Disclaimer:
The videos on Motorcarnut channel are posted with informational purpose only.
Information posted in this video does not guarantee any particular result. Use this information provided in the video with caution and at your own risk. It is the responsibility of the viewer to take this risk.
Motorcarnut is not responsible or liable for property damage, any loss damage, or injury related to or resulted from information posted in this video.

[Jacklee-qhcv]

If your car is boiling and you don't have any other symptoms replace the radiator cap. You'd be surprised how many people have had a head gasket replaced and it's just a faulty radiator cap.

[MrBrooksV]

Great video! I actually have a 2011 Mazda 3 and today (same color and all) had the head gasket replaced. My mechanic told me about getting it replaced a few weeks back while tuning up and I’m now looking at these problems. I’m swapping cars with my fiancé while I’m away in the military and I’m extremely grateful that I didn’t risk any of these issues. Very insightful and more people need to be aware of this!

[brendan]

@Motorcarnut, thanks for the informative video.

I've been trying to diagnose my 2013 VW Amarok TDI420. Looks like EGR has been removed/deleted. Coolant expansion tank/system is over-pressurising with a lot of bubbling occurring, smells like exhaust fumes, plus there is a black soot-like deposit on the tank walls. No white smoke out of exhaust. No 'chocolate milkshake' visible yet. No sign of diesel in coolant. Possibly the slightest trace of oil, but very hard to tell & could just be from the exhaust fumes? Already replaced expansion tank cap.

I'm thinking this means there is a head gasket crack forcing exhaust gases into the coolant lines, but not big enough to lose coolant into the cylinders, Is there anything else it could be, before I go and ask my mechanic to take a look at the head? Any suggestions really appreciated.

Also concerned about driving it to my mechanic, wondering if it's worth a tow? No apparent issues with starting, idle, etc. No temp gauge on the VW Amarok, just coolant warning light, which was flicking on and off the last time I drove it.

[TreyKing]

Nice video! My 2011 Mini Cooper S has symptom #3... a white smoky exhaust when warmed to operating temperature.

[whitdough]

Had a dream that I was sitting in a Lamborghini truck with no mi till I woke up to smoke coming from the hood of my van, but the good thing is it didn't overheat - which was strange. Cars are like people the older they get the more one has to maintain them.

[thetuesdaywhistler]

Yeah, and, while you're there, with the engine running, but not hot, remove the coolant cap and see if it bubbling/exhaust gases in there - another simple check to see if the head gasket is blown.

[anitasandall]

Thank you for the clear, helpful and to the point advice; much appreciated.

[ceyfoceyfo]

Great video. I got a question I have a 2016 mustang and this car is blowing smoke at idle but then when I start driving it goes away and also I doesn’t always smoke at idle some times it does and sometimes doesn’t now When I does it doesn’t blow as much smoke seen in the video but it does blow enough to note that it is not normal any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

[gabrielgalaxygh]

Mine starts up really easy has white smoke though no oil on coolant and I just changed oil but didnt seem unusually brown. The bike sat for years so I expected the fluids to be bad

[adzereu]

In your experience what would you say about oil in coolant bottle which is clear like new oil on a 2007 nissan note with no over heating

[Layla-mtpc]

Thanks my car ticks the 3 boxes of trouble shooting 👍 brilliant vid after looking at other vids, your number one👍

[robbiestewart]

Just found your video my rav 4 is currently in the shop as result of what was initially thought to be a blown head gasket but was cleared of milkshake mixture turns out it was the rods that are meant to keep coolant and water sealed in engine with rod 1 & 2 having lost all their tension and were just sitting in the holes

The head gasket plate is still in one piece and only very teeny tiny amount of warpage to cylinder so all my mechanic has to do is remove threading from both holes and re-tap them so the bolts fit in there with full tension

[diegomelendez]

Very helpful video thank you I have that same problem where the coolant is not mixing with the runs low when I drive it and leaks different places below the vehicle...is it cause their is a blockage in the combustion chamber?

[whiplash]

I recently found that milky substance under the filler cap and on the dipstick of my car and a few days ago I had the oil changed and used motor flush to clean out the engine. So far the oil has remained clean and normal and the car runs normal and doesn't overheat or emit any white smoke. I assumed it was just condensation due to the winter weather and only making short trips in it, keeping it under 20 miles a week. It does consume a lot of coolant with no leaks in the bottom and it the fluid inside the radiator is dirty and oily despite installing a new radiator six months ago.

[martincampos]

My car looses coolant but there’s no leaks, I changed the radiator couple months ago due to coolant leaking, and the coolant sometimes bubbles, could it be the radiator cap I haven’t changed that and the oil looks fine, I do need a oil change soon, what could be the problem?

[naturesrecovery]

Hello, 2002 BMW X5, I do have white smoke from my exaust, on start up then it subcides. I notice last year a creaming color on my oil cap and around the cap fitting, and a little on the oil dip stick. I don't drive to often, short trips because of the age of the car. My father says BMW'S are not short trip cars and you have to drive them long distances sometimes to burn off Condensation, he said thats why I'm getting the thick white smoke, but I don't know, I don't want to take it on the highway and it breaks down on me haha. Blown casket or Condensation? Sorry for the long comment haha. BTW it does smoke while I'm driving also, its like it does it off and on.

[goodnewsmusic.]

Thank you for the video! Keep up the good work. God bless 🙏🏼

[dnwar]

Been searching the net but haven't found a solution. My car radiator fan keeps cycling on and off for few seconds (5-10 seconds) after coming to a stop from 4 kms and sometimes even cycles on and off when driving. Had replaced the water pump and remove the thermostat. Before the waterpump was leaking but new pump had been install. Any idea on what might be the problem?

[gonzalotorres]

hey man appreciate the video, i recently had a radiator hose blown and there was water in the entire hood. i replaced it and its all okay but i recently pulled out the oil cap and there was a green residue like coolant so im not sure if my head gasket has blown as well. i cleaned the cap and checked today and there was no residue again, there is no white smoke in the exhaust, the dipstick is fine, coolant level is ok, im just worried about that residue that was in the oil cap and today my low oil pressure light came on for seconds then disappeared, thank you in advance!

[samanthaogden]

I have a question. I have a carolla Toyota 1996. We were passing someone and the car started to smoke and it sounded like we blew a tire. But there was leaking oil from the engine and no hoses popped off. So what can it be ?