Over heating issues due to a Blown Head Gasket

Today came across a vehicle which couldn't run couple of kms before stalling.Under the hood the car was overheating steam from the radiator cap. Upon inspection it was noticed that the water level in the radiator had just vanished or in this case leaked off, since saw the water leaking out when refilling the cooling system.

So after getting it to a safe place decided to do a head gasket leak test.

How to Test for a Blown Head Gasket

A reliable way to determine whether a head gasket is blown is to test for carbon dioxide. In this test, the coolant is examined for traces of combustion gasses. The test is performed with an apparatus that utilizes a solution that changes color upon contact with carbon monoxide. The steps are as follows:

• Lower the level of coolant in the radiator (to provide a testing air space).
• Warm the engine (for improved accuracy).
• Use the tool to extract fume samples from the coolant.
• Mix samples in testing solution.

How to Tell If You Have a Blown Head Gasket

In this case the below 2 symptoms were present

• Overheating under the hood
• Smoke blowing from the exhaust with a white-ish tint

So went ahead and dismantled the top half of the engine.

once the gasket was accessed the diagnosis was proven by the below image. 

What is a Head Gasket

In automobile engines, the head gasket is a ringed panel that is placed between the cylinder head and engine block. The head gasket is put in place as a barrier that prevents engine fluids from leaking into the cylinders. As such, the head gasket is among the most vital components in the combustion chamber. In addition to serving as a barrier to the cylinder, the head gasket blocks off conduits to the oil and water. Due to its position between hot and cold engine components, the head gasket faces a full range of temperatures, from the high heat of the combustion chamber to the often cold temperatures of the cooling system. As the impacts of temperature changes take their toll over time, the head gasket can ultimately bear marks along the surface. Consequently, leaks do often develop along this crucial area. If the problem worsens, the gasket can blow. 

The Trouble with Ignoring Blown Head Gasket Symptoms

Often times, a driver will ignore blown head gasket symptoms due to the costs that come with repairs. This can be an even more costly mistake, however, because in many cases, blown head gaskets lead to further car trouble if you continue driving. A coolant leak, for example, could lead to the following problems:

Related Symptoms of Blown Head Gasket Trouble

When head gasket failure occurs between two or more cylinders, several symptoms are bound to result. The most common symptom in this case is a misfire, which would result from the leakage of compression between cylinders. Evidence of this could include the following:

• Lowered compression due to rough idling
• Overheating of the engine
• Coolant leakage to the oil compartment
• Coolant on top of a spark plug

The failure of a head gasket between a coolant port and cylinder can cause leakage of the former into the latter. When this occurs, a misfire is likely to happen during vehicle ignition, especially if the motor is revved up, cut and then restarted. While such a problem might evade a regular compression test, it could be more easily identified by revving the engine immediately after putting the cooling system to a pressure test.

Overheating Due to a Blown Head Gasket

In some cases, one such problem might send off a chain reaction, such as where cooling system failure spreads to the radiator. The trouble is, both could be damaged by overheating regardless. When a car gets misdiagnosed or when the driver skimps on repairs, there might be one component that is already ruined and several others that are significantly damaged, but the driver might only want to replace the component that’s shot. Consequently, the other weakened parts might soon fail as well, and this could negatively impact the newly replaced component. Often times, problems such as these are triggered not from overheating, but by other causes. So it's always advisable to follow the technician's advice.