A blown or cracked head gasket can cause one of two problems: It can allow coolant to escape from your engine. The result is a loss in coolant, which can lead to overheating of your engine if you drive it for any length of time.

The coolant light, itself, will not cause a failure, but a visual leak may. The failure can be a result of either a visual observance (leaking radiator fluid), engine emission output (smog), or both. If the radiator is leaking fluid, the smog technician can fail the vehicle based on a visual defect.

You can also try performing a compression test of your engine to find a head gasket leak. If your head gasket is blown, it will allow the compressed air in 1 or more cylinders to bleed off into the cooling system lowering the compression in that cylinder.

How to Tell If You Have a Blown Head Gasket

1. External leaks of coolant from under the exhaust gasket.
2. Overheating under the hood.
3. Smoke blowing from the exhaust with a white-ish tint.
4. Depleted coolant levels with no trace of leakage.
5. Bubble formations in the radiator and overflow compartment.
6. Milky discoloration of the oil.

There will likely be one cost to fix the head gasket and another cost to replace the head gasket. With that in mind, the typical price range of a head gasket replacement is between $1,400 and $1,600. Depending on the engine, however, this can rise to $2,500.

View The Best Head Gasket Sealer Below

1. J-B Weld Ultimate Copper Silicone Gasket Maker and Sealant.
2. Steel Seal Blown Head Gasket Fix Repair Sealer.
3. Permatex Indian Head Gasket Shellac Compound.
4. Permatex High Tack Gasket Sealant.
5. ATP Automotive AT-205 Re-Seal Stops Leaks.
6. Permatex Copper Spray-A-Gasket Adhesive Sealant.