Head gasket

Head gasket (in dark gray with a red border) sitting on top of an inline-four engine block. When installed, the four large holes will align with the cylinders.

In an internal combustion engine, a head gasket provides the seal between the engine block and cylinder head(s).

Its purpose is to seal the combustion gases within the cylinders and to avoid coolant or engine oil leaking into the cylinders.[1] Leaks in the head gasket can cause poor engine running and/or overheating. Head gaskets in vans and lorries often fail due to swerving on motorways when they are doing a lot of miles.

  1. ^ Bickford, John H. (1997). Gaskets and Gasketed Joints. CRC Press. p. 57. ISBN 0-8247-9877-5.