Head Gasket Repair · Hurst, TX
Head Gasket Repair
White smoke that smells sweet, oil that looks like a milkshake, or coolant that keeps disappearing with no puddle under the car. These can point at a head gasket, and they can point at other things. We prove it before we quote it.
Signs You Need Head Gasket Repair
A head gasket seals combustion, oil and coolant away from each other. When it fails, one of them ends up where it should not be.
- Sweet-smelling white exhaust that does not clear once warm: coolant being burned in the cylinder.
- Milky residue on the dipstick: coolant mixing with oil. Residue under the oil cap alone is often just condensation from short trips.
- Coolant loss with no visible leak: it is going somewhere, and the combustion chamber is one of the places it goes.
- Bubbles in the coolant reservoir with the engine running: combustion gas being pushed into the cooling system.
- Overheating on the highway after it seemed fine around town: gas in the coolant blocks circulation under sustained load.
- A rough first few seconds on a cold start: coolant seeping into one cylinder overnight.
What We Do
A cracked head, a leaking intake gasket or a failed oil cooler can produce the same symptoms. We test for the gasket specifically before the engine comes apart.
- Prove the gasket failed. A chemical block test for combustion gas in the coolant, a cooling system pressure test held over time, and a cylinder leak-down test to find which cylinder is leaking and where.
- Find out why it failed. Most head gaskets fail after an overheat. If the fan, thermostat, radiator or pump caused it, fixing the gasket alone means doing the job again.
- Check the head before refitting. The cylinder head is checked for flatness and cracks. A warped head is machined flat before reassembly, because a new gasket will not seal against a surface that is out of true.
- New bolts and the right sequence. Many engines use stretch bolts that must be replaced. Bolts are torqued in the manufacturer's sequence and angle, and the oil and coolant are both replaced so no contamination is left behind.
How We Quote It
We inspect before quoting, because recommending parts from a description is how people end up paying for the wrong ones. Once we know what your vehicle needs, you get a written estimate covering parts and labor.
If we find something extra mid-job, we stop and call you with the measurement and the cost. Nothing gets done without your approval.
Every repair carries a 1, 2 or 3 year warranty, capped at 12,000, 24,000 or 36,000 miles respectively, whichever comes first. Ask us which one covers your repair; it is printed on the invoice either way.
Common Questions
Is milky oil always a head gasket?
No. Short trips can leave a creamy residue under the oil cap from condensation, and that is not a failure. Milky oil on the dipstick or in the pan is the version to worry about.
Can I keep driving on a blown head gasket?
We would not. Coolant in the oil ruins its ability to protect the bearings, and the overheating usually gets worse. A gasket repair can turn into a full engine if it is left.
Do the sealers sold in a bottle work?
Sometimes they slow a small external seep for a while. They rarely fix a leak into the combustion chamber, and some can block passages in the radiator or heater core. We do not rely on them as a repair.
Is a head gasket worth repairing on an older car?
Sometimes. It depends on the engine's condition, the rest of the car and how long you plan to keep it. We give you our honest read before anything is taken apart.
Head Gasket Repair
White smoke, milky oil, or coolant vanishing with no visible leak.
Book Head Gasket Repair- 1, 2 or 3 year warrantyon every repair
- Walk-ins welcomeno appointment needed
- ASE-certified techsall makes & models
- Quote before worknothing without your approval