Also called head gaskets
Draft: this page has not had its final check yet, so check the sources behind anything you rely on.
The seal between the engine block and the cylinder head, which keeps combustion, coolant and oil apart.
History: facts, each with the kind of source it rests on
A head gasket seals the engine block to the cylinder head, keeping the combustion gases in the cylinders and the coolant and oil from leaking in. Most modern engines use multi-layer steel gaskets. A published reference
Every generation on the site whose dossier or engine names it
Reputation: what owners and the press report. Tap one to see what to check.
What to check: Look for milky oil, white smoke from the exhaust, and an engine that runs hot.
Coolant leaking into the oil can turn it like mayonnaise or a milkshake, though that alone does not prove the gasket failed. White smoke suggests coolant is getting into the cylinders, and a leak can make the engine run badly or overheat.
A published reference