Before we get to the signs that you’ve blown your VW’s head gasket, let’s talk about the importance of protecting the engine after the head gasket is cracked. As you will learn if you keep reading, a cracked head gasket causes serious problems in the engine. In fact, it will require extensive repair work to replace the head gasket. As such, if you think that you have a blown head gasket, do not drive your VW to our shop. Rather, have the German automobile towed. Here are the reasons why.
Milky-White Motor Oil
The head gasket creates a seal above the cylinder block to protect the combustion chamber. It keeps the coolant and motor oil out of the chamber. When the head gasket cracks, the coolant will dilute the motor oil and turn it into something that looks like a mocha milkshake. Unfortunately, this milky-white concoction can damage your engine as it circulates through it.
Low Coolant Level
In addition to mixing with the motor oil, the coolant will also start to leak into the cylinder block. Specifically, it will leak into each cylinder. Unfortunately, this means you will have more coolant in the combustion chamber than you do circulating through the engine. Even if you add coolant to the cooling system, it will leak into the combustion chamber, as well.
Overheating Engine
Naturally, this is going to make your VW’s engine overheat. In fact, the Volkswagen was likely overheating already if the head gasket cracked. Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent the engine from overheating. Turning up the heater is not going to reduce the engine’s temperature. The engine is hemorrhaging coolant into the combustion chamber.
Blown Radiator Cap
In addition, the combustion chamber is releasing heat into the engine through the crack in the head gasket. This will continue to increase the engine’s temperature until the coolant gets so hot that it boils. As you know, when the coolant gets this hot, it can blow off the radiator cap. This leaves your VW with hot coolant spraying all over the engine.
White Exhaust Smoke
This will create white smoke, and the coolant that is leaking into the cylinders will create white exhaust. Included with the coolant, the cylinders also have air and fuel that are ignited by the spark plugs. Anytime coolant burns, it creates white smoke. This smoke is drawn through the exhaust system and out the tailpipe.
Now you understand why it is so important that you avoid driving your VW if the head gasket is blown. There are a lot of things going wrong in the engine that will only make the engine damage worse.