Lynol's cheap-ass lawn mower head gasket test

Suspect a head gasket leak? Don't have tools to do a leak down or compression test? Well, you can try this first before you take it to a pro (or junk the mower.) And just wait 'til you tell them how you checked the gasket! You'll be laughed out of the shop!

[robertbicking]

I used this method to confirm a head gasket leak on a 1988 Isuzu Trooper. Works great!

[peoplerstupid]

When you rotate the flywheel and make the piston move up and down, you are alternating between suction and compression. If the compression blows the powder away, the suction pulls the powder into the cylinder.. I'm not certain of the abrasive properties of talcum powder, but it is something to think about. Using a spray of soapy water and looking for bubbles is easier, clings to side and bottom surfaces instead of just top surfaces and will evaporate / burn off harmlessly once engine is running again.

[mobigsly]

COOL, something I stumbled on today, by accident, if the powder trick does not work, try running the engine in the dark or at night, i did this and saw spark/light coming from head gasket/side of cylinder head.

[ykxj]

i work on heavy equipment.. and have used foamy shaving cream to find sucction leaks on pumps or intake manifolds... i like the baby pouder idea...

[tomreyes]

Simple but effective. We had a hiss yesterday from an old mower and could not find it.. we know it was a gasket but this would have pin pointed where. Good Idea guys....

[cbnx]

Soapy water would work too and not be as hard to clean up there Harry Homeowner!

[mznxb]

You could also use a short length of tubing or garden hose like a stethoscope to pinpoint the leak too.

[clubcar]

If all you own is a screwdriver and baby powder, you can diagnose the head gasket, but not fix it!

Ive heard all sorts of crazy ways to find a bad head gasket, this is actually a good one.

That looks like a fancy mower though, electric start, self propelled.

[lawnside]

is that a barracuda networks shirt? i love there products!

[TelcomSupplier]

THIS ..THIS RIGHT HERE IS WHAT YOUTUBE IS BUILT ON!! Im late to this party but great video.

[mechanicandskills]

my lawnmower got a rash using this method

[papacitoperez]

very smart idea. now i got to get me a new tool!! baby powder. you guys are a big help. thanks for sharing.

[NullHad]

If the engine is covered in grime and oil though, this wont do you any good at all. It'll just soak into the grime.

[kevat]

Soapy water for most leak detection jobs works the best. No mess.

[pivotboy]

@NullH3ad so you clean off the oil and grime with a can of carb cleaner. easy

[sunstroke]

what model Briggs is that in the background?

[ringbolt]

hey man this is have ll the tools....compressor simple is always best!

[carmichaelmoritz]

they build most head gaskets to fail .

[esnap]

I don't think i'd pay 80 dollars to see if a 8.00 head gasket was bad that I could change in 5 minutes.

[ednorandrewrowe]

Wonder if oil spitting from carb and muffler is a sure sign? (I've heard breather only affects carb side)... Darn environmentalists, is THIS why every engine is now an OHC, with expensive paper filters, when the old Briggs with foam filter and carb perched on tank lasts forever but is no longer in style???? And every American manufacturer is trying to copy the Honda lawn mower engine, (but my Honda has spewing oil...) So let me get an 80.00 Briggs 4.75 horse on Craigslist: No 9.00 paper filters, and 3 years of massive abuse with no complaint, then replace...? As I've done in my biz...I value character over style in an engine!