How do you know if your headgasket has gone?

[G9RGE]

How do you tell if your headgasket has gone?
Cheers

[spongy]

Loss of heat when heaters are on
White creamy substance in with oil where water has mixed
Loss of fluid but no leaks
white smoke from exhaust when running
oil level has raised......but you aint put any new oil in.
misfire,due to water getting onto plugs etc
and somtimes you can smell it.
hope this helps and you have none of the above.

[mr shifty]

When mine went (compression to air) there was a loud bang and the car started making a loud chuffing noise like a steam train.

[Jasper Gilder]

Or get it to a grage who will have a bit of kit to tell you if there are combustion elements in the water....

[ukkid35]

Since you had your engine rebuilt just four months ago, I reckon it's something you should ask your rebuilder. What makes you suspect head gasket failure?

[Supateg]

1.Test it yourself;

http://www.toolbuddy.co.uk/universal-cylinder-head...

Go or no go, only takes a few minutes.

2.Cooling pressure test can also point to a head gasget, more involved to do.
3.Leak down test & Compression test just to confim results.

1. Is easy to do no experience or problem solving needed.
2 & 3 need particular bits of kit only serious home mechanics or garages have.

Plenty of info if you google it.

Hope this helps a bit
(if your in yorkshire I have the cooling block tester I can test for you)

Craig

[Gazzab]

Mine went 1st time with oil in the water - so some brown mayo floating in the expansion tank.

Heads off, some head work and new gaskets.
Then went a few months later as the car was in at same garage for some tests as to why power was down. Gasket gave way on rolling road and steam out of exhaust and lots of noise etc....