Head Gasket symptoms

[travisp412]

From everyones experience, what are the symptoms of a blown head gasket? I've read people have a constant rattling sound at 2-3k throughout all gears.

My car is experiencing a rattling sound around the same rev range but only in the lower gears (2nd and 3rd usually). The sound does go away when the car gets up to temp and sometimes the sound isn't there at all.

Am I looking at a blown head gasket or potentially something else?

Car has around 160k and has had the Big 3 done.

Thanks in advance everyone

[Slideways]

If it is pinging (you'll hear a metallic clicking through the firewall) under these conditions - 4th gear, 2k RPM and 100% throttle, head gasket is most likely broken between cylinders. Confirmation is done with a leak down test. If it is bad enough, it'll show up on a compression test.

[sapote]

My car is experiencing a rattling sound around the same rev range but only in the lower gears (2nd and 3rd usually). The sound does go away when the car gets up to temp and sometimes the sound isn't there at all.

Pinging should be more prevalent at higher engine temperature and higher load (4th, or higher with wide open throttle), so I don't think this is your issue.
Yes, remove all spark plugs and do leak-down to confirm the leaking air going from one cylinder to another.

[dukeofchen]

From everyones experience, what are the symptoms of a blown head gasket? I've read people have a constant rattling sound at 2-3k throughout all gears.

My car is experiencing a rattling sound around the same rev range but only in the lower gears (2nd and 3rd usually). The sound does go away when the car gets up to temp and sometimes the sound isn't there at all.

Am I looking at a blown head gasket or potentially something else?

Car has around 160k and has had the Big 3 done.

Thanks in advance everyone

I know you said the big 3 are done, but before my VANOS grenaded it was making a rattling sound right in that rev range. If you're gonna do a compression test wouldn't hurt to pull the valve cover and at least check the hub tabs.

[oceansize]

Sound like these?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3__4P6RSVsE

---

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/F0o7k1a5XU8

[travisp412]

Sound like these?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3__4P6RSVsE

---

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/F0o7k1a5XU8

Nope. Definitely not that. Is that the pinging everyone refers to when they talk about potential blown head gaskets?

[Slideways]

Nope. Definitely not that. Is that the pinging everyone refers to when they talk about potential blown head gaskets?

Yes, that is the pinging sound.

Do you have a sound clip of the noise you are hearing?

[travisp412]

Yes, that is the pinging sound.

Do you have a sound clip of the noise you are hearing?

https://youtube.com/shorts/pOgB_yE2Ugg?feature=share

Theres this video. Kind of hard to hear it, but if you turn up the volume, you'll be able to make it out

[Slideways]

https://youtube.com/shorts/pOgB_yE2Ugg?feature=share

Theres this video. Kind of hard to hear it, but if you turn up the volume, you'll be able to make it out

Sounds like an exhaust leak or something in the driveline.

[travisp412]

Sounds like an exhaust leak or something in the driveline.

Thank you. I have an appointment later in the month with my mechanic to pinpoint the noise. I'm a bit more hopeful now that it isn't a head gasket

[AWE46M3]

Do you have OEM US cats? Did you make any changes to your exhaust setup. The honeycomb material in the cats can dislodge and make that noise once the car reaches operating temps. Do you hear the noise when the car is warming up?

[tlow98]

Sound like these?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3__4P6RSVsE

---

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/F0o7k1a5XU8

I love how the engine is cold and they’re just going for it. How on earth did those head gaskets not give up 50k earlier?

[travisp412]

Do you have OEM US cats? Did you make any changes to your exhaust setup. The honeycomb material in the cats can dislodge and make that noise once the car reaches operating temps. Do you hear the noise when the car is warming up?

Nope. I have euro catless headers

[terra]

Check your section 1 to section 2 bolts. Mine were loose enough to rattle when cold but things tightened up enough after warming up to make the sound go away. 2-3k was particularly noticeable.