5 Symptoms of a Blown Head Gasket on a Honda Accord

A blown head gasket is common in any vehicle, including your Honda Accord. But the faster you notice it, the more money you can save during the repair. That brings us to a blown Honda accord head gasket symptoms.

The major symptom of a blown head gasket is watching white smoke erupt from the tailpipe. Other useful signs include frequent misfires, engine overheating, low speed, etc. The best way to fix this issue is a full replacement.

 The problem is that people take longer to identify and fix the issue. Maybe because your car doesn’t stop functioning completely even with a bad head gasket. So, here we are with a straight-to-the-point explanation of the issue.

What Are The Symptoms Of A Blown Head Gasket on a Honda Accord?

The symptoms of a blown head gasket are pretty basic. You should have no difficulty identifying the root of the issue. Below, we have enlisted the five most common symptoms in a Honda Accord having a blown head gasket. So, carefully check them out.

1. White vapor

The biggest sign is watching smoke or white vapor from the exhaust. You can’t miss it.

It results from coolant mixing with the hot engine oil without any barrier. As you know, coolant isn’t supposed to go inside the combustion chamber.

However, now that the seal or head gasket is broken, the substance can easily flow inside and burn. That explains why you see white vapor or smoke while driving the car.

2. Underpower

Another major sign is that the car will not power up properly. By that, we mean the top speed would reduce significantly, giving you a sluggish ride.

The combustion chamber cannot produce enough energy due to the leakage. The leaking oil ruins the ratio of oil and gas inside the cylinder.

Hence, you can’t drive the car at full speed no matter how many times you pull the gear up.

3. Overheating

Overheating is not a particular symptom for blown head gaskets. Multiple engine issues lead to overheating. But we will still go ahead and explain how an overheating engine can lead you to a blown head gasket.

First, every engine gets hot, and there’s nothing to worry about. But overheating can damage the inner components of the car engine. That’s why manufacturers place coolants on top of the engine to reduce the heat.

And the engine block and coolant passage are divided by a head gasket seal. So, you can assume what happens when the head gasket goes bad. Yes, the coolant leaks inside the engine.

Hence, there’s not enough coolant outside the engine block to keep it cool. Such absence of cooling agents causes overheating.

4. Leakage

If you notice any oil leakage while inspecting the car, that’s due to a blown head gasket. Just like the cooling substances, oil can flow outside the engine.

And you can notice it when you open the car and check the engine. The main purpose of the head gasket is to seal the liquid inside. So, any kind of leakage points towards a damaged gasket.

5. Frequent Misfires

It is an extreme sign. We hope you can figure out the head gasket issue before facing any misfiring issues. The Honda Accord engine misfires because the ratio inside the combustion chamber is not accurate anymore. The culprit is the damaged seal.

Plus, the leaked oil can easily come in contact with spark plugs and wires. Hence, when you start the engine, it misfires badly. If you don’t pay attention to it immediately, this minor error can lead to a massive explosion.

Why is Your Honda Accord Head Gasket Has Blown?

We have seen all the major signs above. But do you wonder why the head gasket might suddenly get blown? Well, there’s not one but many reasons. Let’s explore them one by one.

1. Extreme Temperature

Sometimes your Honda Accord’s head gasket can crack or warp because of an extreme temperature. If the temperature exceeds the gasket’s tolerance, it might lose its original shape. That leads to a crack, causing leakage.

For example: driving the car at full speed without a break might cause the engine to overheat. Hence the heat will transmit into the gasket, causing it to melt eventually.

2. Natural Wear & Tear

If you haven’t replaced the head gasket of your Honda Accord ever, the issue might be natural wear and tear. Like any other vehicle, Honda Accord has an average lifespan of 15 years.

The head gasket is supposed to last 100,000 miles easily. In case you have crossed that mileage, the gaskets have been aged.

And components like head gaskets lose their sealing quality with old age. So, that’s something to consider.

3. Wrong Installation

Lastly, your Honda Accord head gasket might be a victim of the wrong installation. It’s mostly possible for new cars without much wear and tears.

According to the manufacturers, the screws must be tight enough for the gasket to work properly. If the screws are loose, it can cause hot oil to leak and ultimately damage the gasket.

So, make sure to inspect this aspect as well.

How To Fix Your Honda Accord Head Gasket?

Unfortunately, there’s no easy way to fix the existing head gasket yourself. You can fix it by pouring some chemical on the cylinder head. But that’s only possible if it’s a small damage. There are multiple head gasket sealers available in the market.

But the frequent misfires signify that the whole gasket needs to be changed as soon as possible.

The overall replacement process includes cleaning up the engine compartment thoroughly. Then, a new gasket has to be attached to the cylinder head. It is a very time-consuming process and requires a lot of  patience and precision.

So, the only right way to deal with this situation is to take your Honda Accord to a repair shop. Ask for a head gasket replacement. The overall cost should be between $1500 to $2000.

A typical material cost would be between $700 and $800. The rest is for the clean-up and labor charges.

Can a Blown Head Gasket Cause the Brake Light and Turn Signal to Stop Working on One Side of a Honda Accord?

A blown head gasket may not directly cause a brake light and turn signal malfunction on one side of a Honda Accord. These issues are likely unrelated and could be caused by electrical problems or faulty components. It’s important to get the car properly inspected by a professional to identify the exact causes of the brake light and turn signal malfunction.

FAQs.

Here’s a small Q&A section if you want to know more about a blown head gasket. After all, you shouldn’t take any chances with your Honda Accord.

Conclusion

Honda Accord can easily last more than 20 years with proper care. By “care,” we mean frequent inspection and fixing any error you encounter. Unlike most other damages, a blown head gasket is hardly your fault.

Sometimes it occurs after the car has crossed a certain number of miles or reached an old age etc. We will suggest you take the symptoms into account.

If your car showcases more than two signs, grab a flashlight and check the engine. Suppose it’s bone dry, then good. But, be aware of oil leakage. It means the engine has a broken seal that needs urgent treatment.