Posted on 2/27/2026
The head gasket is basically the seal between the engine block and the cylinder head. It has a tough job because it has to keep combustion pressure sealed in while also keeping oil and coolant in their proper passages. When it fails, the symptoms can range from mild to dramatic. Most head gasket failures are not random. They usually trace back to heat, pressure, or a mechanical condition that slowly weakened the seal until it gave up. Head Gasket Failure Causes A head gasket can fail for several reasons, but overheating is at the top of the list. Extreme heat can warp the cylinder head slightly, and even a small warp can weaken the sealing surface. Once the seal is compromised, gases and fluids can start crossing paths. The second common theme is pressure. Combustion pressure is intense, and if detonation or abnormal combustion is happening, it can stress the gasket harder than it was designed to handle. Over time, that can contribute to a weak spot that turns into ... read more