The head gasket seals the cylinder head to the engine block and keeps combustion pressure, coolant and oil in their own passages. When it fails you get coolant loss with no external leak, white smoke from the exhaust, or oil that looks like coffee with milk. AutoTech Clinic tests for head gasket failure and repairs it at our Dearborn shop.
We confirm a head gasket with a block test for combustion gases in the coolant and a cylinder leak down test. We do not quote this job on a guess, because it is a large repair and a wrong call is expensive for you.
- How Long
- Usually 2 to 4 days, including machine shop time on the head.
- Same Day
- Time frame confirmed before you leave the car.
- Vehicles
- Foreign and domestic, cars through trucks.
Signs You Need Head Gasket Repair
- White smoke from the tailpipe that smells sweet and never clears
- Coolant level dropping with no leak on the ground
- Milky brown residue on the oil cap or dipstick
- The engine overheating, especially under load
- Bubbles in the coolant reservoir with the engine running
- A misfire on one cylinder that will not respond to spark or fuel parts
What We Do
- 01
Test, Do Not Assume
We run a block test for combustion gases in the coolant, a cooling system pressure test and a cylinder leak down test before we say the words head gasket.
- 02
Find Out Why It Failed
Head gaskets usually fail because the engine overheated. We check the radiator, fan, thermostat and water pump so the repair does not repeat.
- 03
Remove and Inspect the Head
The head comes off and goes to the machine shop to be checked for flatness and cracks and resurfaced. A warped head will destroy a new gasket.
- 04
Rebuild the Seal Correctly
New gasket, new head bolts where the manufacturer specifies torque to yield fasteners, and torque applied in the factory sequence and stages.
- 05
Refill, Bleed and Monitor
We fill and bleed the cooling system properly, run the engine to temperature and recheck for leaks, pressure and correct fan operation.
Why We Do Not Recommend Sealer in a Bottle
Chemical head gasket sealers work by circulating particles that harden where they meet combustion heat. Sometimes they slow a small leak for a while. They also deposit the same material in the radiator, the heater core and the thermostat, which is why a car treated with sealer often arrives later with a blocked cooling system on top of the original problem.
If your budget is tight we would rather talk through the real options, including whether the vehicle is worth the repair, than sell you something that makes the next repair harder.
Catching It Early Saves the Engine
A head gasket that is just starting to leak pushes a little combustion gas into the coolant. The engine runs warm, the reservoir bubbles and you top up coolant now and then. At that stage it is a head gasket job.
Left alone, coolant enters a cylinder and washes the oil film off the cylinder wall, scoring it. Now the block needs work too. The repair gets much bigger, so an early block test is money well spent.
What Affects the Cost
We quote your vehicle specifically after inspecting it, because these are the things that move the number up or down:
- Engine layout, since a V engine has two heads and twice the work
- Whether the head needs resurfacing, valve work or replacement
- Head bolts, which on many engines must be replaced not reused
- Related cooling system parts that caused or were damaged by the overheat
- Whether the overheat also warped the block, which changes the plan entirely
Call (313) 277-7200 with your year, make and model and we will tell you what to expect before you come in.
Why AutoTech Clinic
AAA Approved
An inspected facility that has to meet AAA standards for equipment and training.
Photos First
You see what we found and approve the price before anything is taken apart.
Same-Day Service
Parts on hand for the vehicles we see most, so you are not waiting on a delivery.