What happens if you blow the head gasket on a Ford Focus?

One of the most common critical engine problems is the blown head gasket. If your Ford Focus has blown its head gasket, you may find it running poorly or not at all. Below you’ll find the symptoms, causes, and price of a Ford Focus head gasket. A head gasket’s job is to create a seal between the engine block and the head (s).

What are the symptoms of a blown head gasket?

Most of the symptoms of a blown head gasket are obvious, since the way that the engine runs is usually affected. Here are some of the most common signs of a blown head gasket: Rough/Choppy Idle- When a head gasket blows, it will lower the effective compression ratio of one or more cylinders. This is always most noticeable at idle speed.

How to remove cylinder head from Ford Focus SVT?

1. Put the passenger side of the car on a jack stand and remove that wheel. Remove the plastic splash guard that covers the bottom of the car and the passenger side. These are 10 mm bolts. 2. Remove the serpentine belt then remove the crank pulley. This can be done without an impact gun.

How to remove a Zetec SVT cylinder head?

Start by dis-connecting the VCT connector on top and remove the spark plug galley cover if you have one. These are 8 mm bolts. The valve cover is held on by 8 mm bolts as well. The one on the passenger-firewall side has a stud on it and will require the use of an 8 mm wrench or deep well socket. Do not let the gasket touch the ground.

How much does a blown head gasket cost?

It’s a bit easier with traditional engines that have the camshaft in the block. With parts and labor, the average head gasket price is north of $1200. They can be significantly more depending on the model year and engine.

Can a faulty head gasket cause an oil leak?

A faulty head gasket can also allow engine oil to leak into the coolant passages in the cylinder head. This often shows up as an oily/milky residue in the coolant expansion tank, as the oil floats to the surface of the coolant. Again, be careful though, as this can also be caused by a leaking engine oil cooler or transmission oil cooler. 4 Smoking

What should I do if my head gasket fails?

Head gasket failures are usually the result of an engine overheating, so the best way to prevent a problem is to ensure your cooling system is in good condition. Ensure the system has no leaks, the radiator is working efficiently and the coolant is topped up to the correct level.

How much does a head gasket cost on a car?

With parts and labor, the average head gasket price is north of $1200. They can be significantly more depending on the model year and engine. If you plan on tackling the job yourself, start at the beginning of the weekend, and make sure that you use a torque wrench when putting everything together.

What causes a Toyota Land Cruiser to blow a head gasket?

When it refuses to open, the engine can get hot enough that it’ll crack a head or blow a head gasket. Poor Coolant Flow – If there is not enough coolant flowing through the engine, it’ll overheat. This could be due to a bad radiator, radiator hoses, or water pump.

Why is the fan not working on my Ford Focus?

Unless the wiring issue is fixed, the fuse will blow again. The wiring harness itself can go bad. Your author has personally had a shredded tire completely pull the fan wiring out of his vehicle. It can happen. The fan wiring is some of the more vulnerable wiring in your Focus. You can test the voltage going from the fan relay to the fan itself.

Why is the radiator not working on my Ford Focus?

If the radiator fan is not working, it’s a serious problem. Just because the radiator fan is not on does not mean that it is not working. They are designed to only run when needed. If your Focus is running hot, and the fan is not running we’ve laid out the most common causes of this issue below.

What happens if you blow the head gasket on a Ford Ranger?

Loss of Power – A blown head gasket can leave your Ranger feeling sluggish at speed. “Milky” Oil – Depending on how bad and where the head gasket has broken, engine coolant can mix with the oil. This is a very serious concern. Oil that is too this can lock the motor up and leave you stranded.

What causes a head gasket failure in a Dodge Neon?

Examples bimetal stress causing a head gasket failure include the OEM head gaskets in the Dodge Neon 2.2L, Ford 3.8L V6 and Toyota 3.0L and 3.4L V6 engines. Going further back, we all remember the problems GM had with the 2.3L Quad Four head gaskets.

What causes engine oil to mix with head gasket?

CASE 1: The engine oil, on the dipstick, is a light tan, like coffee with too much creamer. This is bad news and tells you that the head gasket or head gaskets are blown. The solution to this problem is replacing both head gaskets. The biggest cause of coolant mixing with the engine OIl is severe overheating. More specifically : 1.)

Can a 4.0L Explorer have a blown head gasket?

This is bad news and indicates that your 4.0L Explorer (or Ranger, Aerostar, Mountaineer) overheating to the point the one (or both) of the head gaskets burned. CASE 2: The color of the engine oil is normal. So far so good, but this result doesn’t really confirm that the head gaskets are OK.

What happens if you blow the head gasket on a Ford Focus?