• Head gaskets are a vital part of your car engine.automobile engine image by palms from Fotolia.com
  
  A head gasket is a mechanical seal used in engines to seal cylinders. This helps avoid leakage of liquids such as engine coolant or oil which could lead to further problems and damage the engine. Head gaskets are a vital part of your engine and are susceptible to general wear and tear, causing them to need replacing. Head gaskets leak once they are damaged and can not act as a seal.
  
  

Engine overheating

• The biggest cause of head gasket leaking is overheating of the engine, leading to the head gasket breaking. Extreme heat within the engine can lead to expansion which can damage the gasket, causing it to lose its seal and leak. This problem is furthered by the use of aluminum in engines rather than iron. Aluminum engines overheat much more easily than iron, adding increased pressure and stress to the head gasket.
  
  

Quality of head gasket

• Head gasket failure can also be caused simply by poor quality of the head gasket. Not all gaskets are designed equally, and if the design of the gasket does not suit the use of the vehicle, the gasket may break. Gaskets will wear more if a vehicle is frequently driven long distances and as mileage accumulates on the engine.
  
  

Improper replacement of gasket

• If the head gasket previously needed replacing and was not replaced properly, this will lead to failure of the new gasket. Many head gaskets must be tightened in a specific way, and if these directions are not followed the gasket seal may not last. If you are replacing a head gasket yourself, ensure it is done properly or the new gasket could quickly fail and damage the engine.