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Tech Tip: How Can You Tell if a Head Gasket is Leaking or Has Failed? Des Moines IA

Depending on the application and how much labor it requires, the repair bill might run $1,500 or more for parts and labor. The parts required to replace a head gasket include not only the head gasket itself, but also all the other gaskets that have to be replaced to disassemble the top of the engine.

Des Moines Neighborhoods

This page also contains providers and other information for the following Des Moines neighborhoods: Meredith, Carpenter, Sherman Hill, Magnolia Park Easter Lake Area and covering the following zip codes: 50310, 50311, 50314, 50315, 50320

AAMCO Transmissions Complete Car Care
(515) 954-7152
3416 SE 14th St
Des Moines, IA
Napa Auto Parts
(515) 274-2111
801 Sw 63rd St
Des Moines, IA
AutoZone
(515) 633-0600
2305 Martin Luther King Pkwy
Des Moines, IA
Autozone
(515) 633-0600
2305 Martin Luther King J # J
Des Moines, IA
AutoZone
(515) 256-8961
1123 Army Post Rd
Des Moines, IA
Midas Des Moines
515-243-1253
2010 Ingersoll Avenue
Des Moines, IA
Carquest of Merle Hay
(515) 253-0715
3505 Merle Hay Rd
Des Moines, IA
Midas Des Moines
515-278-0496
5618 Douglas Avenue
Des Moines, IA
Napa Auto Parts
(515) 265-6161
2222 E Douglas Ave
Des Moines, IA
Autozone
(515) 299-5180
834 E Euclid Ave
Des Moines, IA
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Tech Tip: How Can You Tell if a Head Gasket is Leaking or Has Failed?

By Larry Carley   email
Technical Editor
November 10, 2009

The first symptoms of a head gasket that is failing are usually a slow loss of coolant with no visible leaks, engine overheating and/or a Check Engine light with cylinder misfire codes.

The first symptoms of a head gasket that is failing are usually a slow loss of coolant with no visible leaks, engine overheating and/or a Check Engine light with cylinder misfire codes.

The Onboard Diagnostic II system should detect any misfires that occur due to a loss of compression or spark plugs fouled by coolant seeping into a combustion chamber. So if a vehicle has a Check Engine light on and a cylinder misfire code, the spark plug in that cylinder should be removed and inspected for coolant fouling. A compression or leak down test should also be done to see if the cylinder is losing compression. Internal coolant leaks caused by a leaky head gasket can usually be diagnosed by pressure testing the cooling system.

Regardless of the cause, a head gasket failure is bad news for the vehicle owner.

Depending on the application and how much labor it requires, the repair bill might run $1,500 or more for parts and labor. The parts required to replace a head gasket include not only the head gasket itself, but also all the other gaskets that have to be replaced to disassemble the top of the engine. This includes the intake and exhaust manifold gaskets, too, plus new cylinder head bolts if the applicat...

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