Blown head gasket

ARMANI SANMARTIN

MEMBER
2011 NISSAN MAXIMA
3.5L
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
80 MILES

Pep boys did a test and seen there was oil and coolant mixing somewhere in the engine but they couldn’t figure out where, so they’re saying I have a blown head gasket, may that be the case is it worth fixing? Or should I just replace the engine? People say if you just fix the gasket, it will happen again shortly after it’s fixed. Is that true?

1 Reply

SCGRANTURISMO

MECHANIC
4,897 POSTS

Hello,

No, not if done properly. When replacing a head gasket there are three critical things to ensure the longevity of the fix. 1 - Get the head shaved at a machine shop. A lot of times an aluminum cylinder head will get hot and warp causing the head gasket to fail. Even if that's not the cause of head gasket failure this should still be done to ensure you have two flat surfaces going together. 2 - Ensure that the cylinder head and engine block mating surfaces are pristine when going back together. Hey should be clean enough to eat off of. 3 - Lastly ensure that the proper torque values and sequence is followed to a "T" from the instructions. If you do these three things, the repair should last for a long, long time. If you would like step by step instructions on how to replace a head gasket on your vehicle from the manufacturer, we have it available. Just say the word and we will get it right over to you.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros