Cracked Cylinder Head Symptoms: 8 Common Signs

Cracked Cylinder Head Symptoms. Learn the telltale 8 signs and symptoms of a cracked engine cylinder head so you can catch this serious issue early before it leads to even costlier engine damage.
I'm Brian from Honest Mechanic, and in this video, I'll be going over all the cracked cylinder head symptoms you need to watch out for in a straightforward, easy-to-understand way.
But first, what exactly is the cylinder head? It's a crucial component that caps the top of the engine block and cylinder bores. The cylinder head houses the valves, injectors, and passages for coolant to circulate and help regulate engine temperatures during operation. A cracked cylinder head compromises this cooling system integrity and can allow coolant to leak into areas it shouldn't, like the combustion chambers.
So what are some common cracked cylinder head symptoms to be on the lookout for? Overheating due to lack of proper coolant flow is a major red flag. If your temperature gauge is spiking or that hot warning light illuminates, it could very well be from a cracked head. You might also notice a constant need to refill the coolant reservoir with no visible exterior leaks as the coolant escapes internally through cracks.
White smoke billowing out the exhaust pipe is another telltale sign of coolant burning off in the cylinders. You may even smell a sweet odor from the tailpipe as that coolant combusts. And if it mixes with the engine oil, you could have a milky, contaminated oil situation on your hands too.
A cracked cylinder head can absolutely wreak havoc on the combustion process, so drivability issues like rough idling, lack of power, stalling, and misfiring are all common cracked cylinder head symptoms. You might visibly spot cracks around coolant passages too, though often the damage isn't obvious until you disassemble components.
Ignoring cracked cylinder head symptoms and continuing to drive with this issue will only lead to worsening damage over time. So at the first signs of overheating, coolant loss, white smoke, or drivability troubles, get it diagnosed promptly! I cover all the need-to-know details on cracked cylinder head symptoms, signs of a cracked engine cylinder head, damaged cylinder head warning signs, and more in this video. You'll learn what will happen if you have a cracked cylinder head and keep driving on it too.
Let me know any other cracked cylinder head questions you have in the comments! While you're here, don't forget to like the video and subscribe to Honest Mechanic for more helpful automotive advice and repair insights.