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How to tell if the engine head gasket is burnt

Model: (Various brands) Various
Part: Cylinder head

How to identify and control if the cylinder head gasket is burnt? It is not certain that just because the vehicle is consuming water the fault lies with the cylinder head: in this example we see a Volkswagen E288 engine mounted on a MAN van on which all the heat exchangers, such as the oil cooler, the air/water intercooler, the EGR cooler (both checked under pressure) and all the places where the coolant passes, such as the two radiators, need to be checked. In this case, between the engine block and the cylinder head, there was a significant leak and the gasket had become overheated, causing it to leak between the layers: but it could also have damaged the cylinder head.

Posted on 8 November 2025 by ScegliAuto

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